From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
.bitnet
| Introduced |
1985 |
| TLD type |
Pseudo-domain-style address suffix |
| Status |
Formerly used in addresses and site names |
| Registry |
None |
| Sponsor |
CREN |
| Intended use |
To designate an address or hostname connected via BITNET |
| Actual use |
Was widely used in late 1980s, but is no longer in use |
| Registration restrictions |
No registrations are possible, as this domain is not in the root |
| Structure |
Appended to right of BITNET hostnames |
| Documents |
? |
| Dispute policies |
None |
| Website |
None |
.bitnet was a pseudo-domain-style suffix used in the late 1980s when identifying a hostname not connected directly to the Internet but possibly reachable through inter-network gateways. In this case, it indicated that the hostname preceding it was reachable via the BITNET network. This was one of several apparent "top-level domains" that were not actually in the Internet root, but were sometimes used in addresses during the time when non-Internet networks remained in wide use. Of these, .arpa was the only one ever actually added to the Internet root, where it continues to exist in a redesignated purpose of "Address and Routing Parameter Area".
