Jim, you wrote:
This is truly a fine piece of work. I hope that you continue to refine your analysis of not only the 9 "popular" Root Name Servers but all of the Root Name Servers.
There is no distinction. Having a server that answers for names in "." using data not registered via the IANA (directly or indirectly) is not the same as having a "root name server." Your desire to make a distinction between "popular" and "actual" is dishonest, misleading, ugly, and rude. There are exactly nine root name servers. Not "popular" root name servers - 9 SERVERS, total: A.ROOT-SERVERS.NET. 602325 A 198.41.0.4 B.ROOT-SERVERS.NET. 602325 A 128.9.0.107 C.ROOT-SERVERS.NET. 602325 A 192.33.4.12 D.ROOT-SERVERS.NET. 602325 A 128.8.10.90 E.ROOT-SERVERS.NET. 602325 A 192.203.230.10 F.ROOT-SERVERS.NET. 602325 A 192.5.5.241 G.ROOT-SERVERS.NET. 602325 A 192.112.36.4 H.ROOT-SERVERS.NET. 602325 A 128.63.2.53 I.ROOT-SERVERS.NET. 602325 A 192.36.148.17 Get over it. Paul