In the grand scheme of human history, the Internet is something completely new. It has revolutionized the way we live, communicate, shop, learn, and work.
We’ve seen tremendous progress on the front end of the internet. 40 years ago, text-only web pages were the standard and browsers didn’t exist. The kind of highly interactive websites we have now would have been unimaginable back then.
Another wave of improvements is quietly underway, from the emergence of artificial intelligence tools to other infrastructure upgrades that aim to reduce the friction and inefficiencies in the way the internet currently operates.
The Internet we use today is built on a very useful system, the DNS (Domain Name System), which has been providing us with good services for decades and will continue to exist for decades to come. It is like an old and reliable phone book, mapping domain names (such as baidu.com ) to IP addresses.
But the problem is, phone books are outdated.
The fundamental weakness of DNS is that it lacks built-in security measures and is vulnerable to a variety of attacks, such as cache poisoning, spoofing, and man-in-the-middle attacks. In addition, the hierarchical and centralized structure of DNS, coupled with its reliance on unencrypted communications by default, creates potential bottlenecks and single points of failure that attackers can exploit to disrupt Internet services at scale.
We need some new methods and systems to help us move forward. That’s why we’re seeing new and better ways to build. One of these innovations is ArNS (Arweave Name System). As part of the AR.IO Permanent Cloud Network, ArNS is a new type of domain name system that solves the shortcomings of DNS and creates a more permanent, decentralized and reliable Internet.
Why has DNS fallen behind?
Limitations of DNS
DNS (Domain Name System) is like the phone book of the Internet, translating human-readable domain names into IP addresses. It has served us well for decades, but it is now somewhat outdated, mainly due to its centralized structure and reliance on temporary data storage.
- Centralized control: DNS is managed hierarchically, with ICANN at the top, responsible for overseeing domain name allocation and IP allocation. Although centralization provides stability and management convenience, it also creates loopholes.
- Censorship: Governments or service providers can censor websites by manipulating DNS records or blocking/banning websites entirely. Recent attempts by the governments of Malaysia and France to censor online content via DNS have highlighted this issue.
- Security risks: Centralized DNS servers are vulnerable to attacks such as DDoS, spoofing, and cache poisoning, which can disrupt Internet access on a large scale. A recent security audit showed that a significant number of DNS servers in North America are vulnerable to DNSSEC vulnerabilities, which reflects the risk of large-scale disruptions.
- Temporary records: DNS records are usually stored on centralized servers, and their durability depends on the continued operation of these servers and the maintenance of their domain names by registrants. Domain names may expire or be transferred, resulting in the loss of related data. In addition, the maximum registration period for a domain name is 10 years, which requires constant renewal and faces the risk of price increases.
The above limitations show that we need a more powerful, permanent, and decentralized system to support the next development of the Internet.
New Domain Name Paradigm ArNS
ArNS is different. It is built on the Arweave blockchain, a permanent decentralized storage network. This means that websites built with ArNS cannot be deleted, censored, or lost. They are permanently engraved into the foundation of the Internet. The system provides a reliable alternative, especially for those seeking censorship resistance, low maintenance, and persistence online.
The core of ArNS lies in its ability to establish a permanent and unchangeable link between human-readable names and the content they represent. This is achieved through several key mechanisms:
- Content addressing: Unlike DNS, which relies on location-based IP addresses, ArNS uses content addressing. This means that the domain name points directly to the content's unique identifier (transaction ID), ensuring that the link remains valid even if the content is moved or copied to another server. With content addressing, it's the content that's stored that matters, not its physical location.
- Decentralized Registry: The ArNS registry is stored on the Arweave blockchain, a distributed network with no single point of failure. This makes it highly resistant to censorship or deletion as there is no central authority that can target it.
- Permanent Storage: Arweave’s blockchain ensures data permanence. Once uploaded, content and its associated ArNS names are preserved indefinitely, eliminating concerns about content disappearing due to server shutdowns or domain name expiration.
Comparison between ArNS and DNS
Purchase Name
DNS can only choose to lease domain names, while ArNS provides two ways to purchase domain names:
- Lease: Users can lease domain names for a specified period, up to 5 years. This option provides flexibility for projects with deadlines or changing requirements.
- Perpetual Purchase: For users seeking permanent ownership, ArNS allows for the registration of domain names in perpetuity. Once a name is purchased in perpetuity, the user can choose how long the content linked to that name will be associated, providing a truly lasting online presence.
Management Name
Unlike DNS, which has a centralized registry, any domain name can be managed by the owner. To manage domain ownership and settings, ArNS uses a smart contract binding registry and Arweave name tokens (ANT):
- ANT is an ownership token : Each registered ArNS name is associated with an ANT token as proof of ownership. ANT owners can control various settings, including what the name points to, subdomains, transfer control to others, or give up control.
- Subdomain Control (Undernames) : ANT owners can create subdomains (called "Undernames") using underscores (_) to represent separators. This enables them to organize and manage multiple content projects under their ArNS primary domain.
Access ArNS via AR.IO Gateway
ArNS names are always accessible via the Gateway Node on the AR.IO network:
- Decentralized Gateway Network: ArNS is part of the AR.IO network, which is the cornerstone of the Permaweb. AR.IO consists of a network of gateways, which are access points to the permaweb (the collection of content stored on Arweave).
- ArNS Resolution: AR.IO gateways resolve ArNS domain names - they cache and serve permaweb content, ensuring efficient and reliable access. This means that each ArNS name can be resolved across an unlimited number of access providers, ensuring there is no single point of failure or manipulation.
Building the Future Internet
ArNS is more than just a technical improvement, it is a key pillar of the Permanent Cloud. By combining the permanence of Arweave with the accessibility of the AR.IO Gateway, it ensures that links never die, content remains intact, and is censorship-resistant.
Advantages of ArNS include:
- Eliminate link rot: Permalinks ensure that content remains accessible regardless of changes in hosting infrastructure or domain ownership.
- Censorship resistance: Decentralized storage and domain name resolution make it extremely difficult to censor or delete content.
- Data Integrity: The Arweave blockchain ensures that content remains unchanged, maintaining its authenticity and preventing tampering.
ArNS, combined with the AR.IO network, provides a powerful foundation for building a new generation of applications and services that are truly permanent, censorship-resistant, and user-controlled. As the permaweb continues to grow, ArNS will play a vital role in shaping the future of the Internet.
The Internet is Growing: Join the Revolution
As part of the Permanent Cloud, ArNS supports a new generation of applications and services that are truly decentralized, permanent, and controlled by users. The AR.IO network ties it all together, ensuring seamless access and network resilience.
It's time to ditch the old phone book and embrace the future of the Internet. ArNS is leading the way with a better, more permanent solution to the shortcomings of DNS.
Try ArNS today and build the future of the Internet - a network that never ends.
