Google, OpenDNS work on 'global Internet speedup'

Search giant Google and OpenDNS are teaming up to speed up the Internet by having the Domain Name System (DNS) —the Internet’s equivalent of a switchboard or a phonebook— use geographic information to fetch data from the closest server. Tech site CNET reported the technology, called edns-client-subnet or the “Global Internet Speedup," uses geographic data to help computers get data from the closest server. “Anybody using OpenDNS or Google Public DNS will immediately get the benefits of this technology ... The worst-case scenario is that things remain they way they are today," it quoted OpenDNS chief executive David Ulevitch as saying in an interview. Ulevitch said the discussion over such a technology had been going on for more than a year. The CNET article likened the technique to a phone book, where one provides the area code and prefix of one’s phone number - but not the entire thing; and the phone book provides the number of an establishment like a service station that is close to the user rather than across town. On the other hand, the CNET article noted Google’s Internet operations are so big it can benefit from the technology when requesting data from other servers and when others request data from its own servers. “Google is committed to making the Internet faster not just for our users, but for everyone. We will do that any way we can, by improving protocols, browsers, client software, and networks," it quoted Google Distinguished Engineer Dave Presotto as saying. Partnership, standardization CNET said advocates for the technology have signed up some partners in the content delivery network (CDN) industry. These companies specialize in mirroring Web sites or Internet operations around the world. “I do hope to have all of them on board," Ulevitch said. He said that with the CDN players on board, they can deliver data more smoothly. Ulevitch also said he expects standardization of the technology to happen within a year. “There have been a couple false starts...There were people who were ambivalent about it. [But] once something gets a significant amount of vendor adoption in the real world, that ends up speaking loud enough to make something a standard anyway. It’s more likely fast-tracked for the standards process," he said. — TJD, GMA News