Setting Nameservers - how?

Question

I understand how I can change the dns settings for my domains by editing my bind configs, when I run my own name-servers. I know that I can define the name-servers with my registrar via their online control panels. But I have no idea how that part works...

How does my registrar store the data about the name-servers? Is it something clever, like them having the authority to store NS records in the root name-servers?

I'm confused by this part, can anyone explain?

Answer 1

It may be helpful to understand the difference between a "registrar" and a "registry" to begin with. A registrar is a company that sells domain names (ie. godaddy) to buyers. Anyone can be a registrar. You can become a registrar.

A registry is an entity (chosen by ICANN) that maintains the master database of domain names. There are several registries out there. The Internet Society (ISOC) is the registry for all .org names, Verisign is the registry for all .com and .net domain names. There are others and each country has one for their domain. All the registrars access and update the registry databases.

A registry is responsible for maintaining the top level domain (TLD) which is the ultimate DNS server. A request to resolve a domain name, if it can't be resolved by any other DNS server will filter up to the TLD. Think of it as a hierarchy like a tree where the TLD is the trunk. At that point it will be resolved into an IP address or an error will be returned.