a.root-servers.net - robtex.com
a.root-servers.net
| DNSSEC | ⚠️ Not signed | ||||||
| A | 2001:503:ba3e::2:30🇺🇸 VERISIGN-AS2001:503:ba3e::/48 Verisign Route | ||||||
| PTR | a.root-servers.net | ||||||
| A | 198.41.0.4🇺🇸 VERISIGN-AS198.41.0.0/24 Verisign Route | ||||||
root-servers.net
| DNSSEC | ⚠️ Not signed | ||||||
| NS | a.root-servers.net ⭐ | ||||||
| NS | b.root-servers.net | ||||||
| NS | c.root-servers.net | ||||||
| NS | d.root-servers.net | ||||||
| NS | e.root-servers.net | ||||||
| NS | f.root-servers.net | ||||||
| NS | g.root-servers.net | ||||||
| NS | h.root-servers.net | ||||||
| NS | i.root-servers.net | ||||||
| NS | j.root-servers.net | ||||||
| NS | k.root-servers.net | ||||||
| NS | l.root-servers.net | ||||||
| NS | m.root-servers.net | ||||||
| SOA | a.root-servers.netnstld@verisign-grs.com 2026-05-21 #0 | ||||||
WOT: UNKNOWN (78/100)
📈 Tranco rank: #106
root-servers.net
The root-servers.net domain is the official naming convention for the 13 authoritative DNS root name servers that form the foundation of the global Domain Name System (DNS). Each root server is identified by a letter (A through M) and uses a hostname in the format[letter].root-servers.net(e.g.,a.root-servers.net,k.root-servers.net).
Purpose
DNS root servers are the starting point for all DNS queries on the internet. When a recursive resolver needs to look up a domain name, it begins by querying one of the root servers, which directs it to the appropriate top-level domain (TLD) nameservers. The root-servers.net domain provides a stable, well-known naming scheme for these critical infrastructure servers.
The 13 Root Servers
While there are only 13 logical root server identities (limited by the size of a DNS UDP response), the actual infrastructure consists of over 1,900 physical server instances distributed globally using anycast routing. The servers are operated by 12 independent organizations:
| Letter | Operator | |
|---|---|---|
| A, J | Verisign, Inc. | |
| B | USC Information Sciences Institute | |
| C | Cogent Communications | |
| D | University of Maryland | |
| E | NASA (Ames Research Center) | |
| F | Internet Systems Consortium (ISC) | |
| G | US Department of Defense (DISA) | |
| H | US Army Research Lab | |
| I | Netnod (Sweden) | |
| K | RIPE NCC (Netherlands) | |
| L | ICANN | |
| M | WIDE Project (Japan) |
Related Resources
- root-servers.org — Official Root Server Technical Operations Association website
- IANA Root Servers — Authoritative list of root server addresses
PTR for
NS for
Previously NS for
Same first word
Similar names
DNS History
3 records (2 active, 1 former)
○MXmx.verisign-grs.com2009-07-04 → 2009-07-04 · 3 obs
○ 2015-09-04 07:36:34
○ 2026-05-29 16:49:14
●A198.41.0.42009-07-04 → 2026-05-29 · 2 obs
● 2026-05-29 16:49:14
●A2001:503:ba3e::2:302015-09-04 → 2026-05-29 · 3 obs
● 2015-09-04 07:36:34
● 2026-05-29 16:49:14
🔍 DNS Trace
📋 Delegation Chain
| Zone | Nameservers | Glue |
|---|---|---|
| net | d.gtld-servers.net, e.gtld-servers.net, f.gtld-servers.net, g.gtld-servers.net... | - |
| root-servers.net | a.root-servers.net, h.root-servers.net, c.root-servers.net, g.root-servers.net... | 26 records |
✅ Authoritative Response
Server:193.0.14.129
NS records: a.root-servers.net, h.root-servers.net, c.root-servers.net, g.root-servers.net, f.root-servers.net, b.root-servers.net, j.root-servers.net, k.root-servers.net, l.root-servers.net, m.root-servers.net, i.root-servers.net, e.root-servers.net, d.root-servers.net
🔒 DNSSEC Status
⚠️ Insecure (no DNSSEC)
No DS record for root-servers.net (unsigned zone)
⏱️ Timing
Total: 509ms | Queries: -
📄 Records
| Type | Count | Sample Data |
|---|---|---|
| A | 1 | 198.41.0.4 |
| AAAA | 1 | 2001:503:ba3e::2:30 |
📌 Glue Records Collected
Total: 26
In-bailiwick: 26 (a.root-servers.net, a.root-servers.net, h.root-servers.net...)
Analysis
Name Server Role
a.root-servers.net is listed as a name server in the NS delegation records of mail.sec.kz, xk5raf.z.cjjd14.com, 47m8pgftx26svjnz4xrqnupulc1xl8g.z.cjjd14.com, 47m8oguihjr6jewe1zhwqgwk11a3o67.z.cjjd14.com, nrw.igrushka.kz and several hundred other domains.
ns1.park.kz, ns2.park.kz and domain-for-sale-ns1.park.kz are commonly used as name server together with a.root-servers.net.
IP Addresses
a.root-servers.net points to two IP numbers: 198.41.0.4 and 2001:503:ba3e::2:30.
Among the host names that share IP numbers with a.root-servers.net are ns.viasbolivia.gob.bo, a.swansunittesting.com, ns.7588.20130429.deleted.gkg.net and two others.