Hi all, Disclosure: I'm a journalist with a company called the451.com (details in sig file). Anyhow, that said, I was talking to Network Solutions about their decision to swap out the Sun box that is the A root server and change it for a more powerful RS/6000 S80. Also it is using IBM servers for its new network of name servers - it has already deployed 8 of the intended 12 according to the company, including one brought on stream two days ago in Hong Kong. As most on this list probably already know, it is separating the root servers from the name servers. Anyhow, NSI claims that the strain on the A root server has jumped from 220 million 'hits' to 420 million during Q1 alone. I haven't managed to define what hit is yet but intend to at some point. NSI seems slightly unsure as to the main reason for the increase in hits, but speculates that one of the reasons may be says the main reason for this is that ISP's are using different caching techniques and more & more searches are going right to the top of the tree than before. What do people on this list feel about this as a reason? It seems a little woolly to me. Cheers, Nick -- Nick Patience Internet Editor & NY Dep. Bureau Chief the451.com | wap.the451.com T: 212 460 7131 M: 917 312 5712 F: 413 826 8217 nick.patience@the451.com