FNS and DNS

The Internet Domain Name System (DNS) is a hierarchical collection of name servers that provide the world Internet with host and domain name resolution. FNS uses DNS to name enterprise objects globally.

A domain name is the name DNS uses to identify an enterprise-level network (LAN or WAN). Networks using NIS+ permit creation of subdomains within the parent domain, and DNS can identify such subdomains.

Names can be constructed for any enterprise that is accessible on the Internet; consequently, names can also be constructed for objects exported by these enterprises. For more information about FNS and DNS, see "Federating Under DNS".