
ERNET's network structure is a hub-and-spoke model, connecting 8,000 nodes across the country. This extensive reach allows for efficient data transfer.
ERNET's network is designed to provide high-speed connectivity to its users. This is achieved through its robust infrastructure, which includes a large number of nodes and a high-capacity backbone network.
ERNET's network structure enables it to provide high-speed internet connectivity to its users, with speeds of up to 10 Gbps. This fast connectivity is essential for data-intensive applications.
ERNET's network has a wide reach, covering all 29 states in India, as well as the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
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What is ERNET
ERNET is a network dedicated to education and research in computer networking.
The full form of ERNET is Education & Research in Computer Networking (ERNET).
ERNET is designed to provide high-speed internet connectivity to educational institutions and research organizations.
ERNET aims to facilitate the sharing of knowledge and resources among its member institutions.
ERNET has become a vital component of India's education and research infrastructure.
ERNET has been instrumental in promoting digital literacy and online education in the country.
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History and Genesis

ERNET started its journey in the late 1980s with the introduction of a dial-up network in 1986-87. The first service launched was UUCP mail.
ERNET's growth accelerated in the early 1990s with the installation of a leased line between Delhi and Mumbai in January 1991. This line had a speed of 9.6 kbit/s.
By 1992, ERNET had connected all Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore, the Department of Electronics (DOE) Delhi, and the National Centre for Software Technology (NCST) Mumbai through 9.6 kbit/s leased lines.
ERNET was allotted its first IP address, Class B 144.16.0.0, by InterNIC in 1990. Later, Class C addresses were allotted to ERNET by the Asia Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC).
Here's a brief timeline of ERNET's major milestones:
- 1986-87: ERNET starts with dial-up network.
- 1990: ERNET is allotted Class B IP address 144.16.0.0 by InterNIC.
- 1991: First leased line of 9.6 kbit/s is installed between Delhi and Mumbai.
- 1992: 64 kbit/s Internet gateway link is commissioned from NCST Mumbai to UUNet in Virginia.
- 1993: Satellite WAN is set up.
- 1998: ERNET India is registered as an Autonomous Society.
- 1999-2000: New terrestrial high-speed backbone is set up.
- 2000: POP infrastructure is upgraded.
ERNET continued to expand and improve its services, connecting over 1100 institutes under different schemes today.
Structure and Components
ERNET is a network that connects various research and educational institutions across India. It was established in 1987.

ERNET has a hierarchical structure with a core network at the center, which connects the National Informatics Centre (NIC) and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc).
The core network is connected to several regional networks, each covering a specific geographical area.
ERNET provides a range of services to its member institutions, including internet access, email, and file transfer.
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Backbone
The ERNET backbone is a sophisticated link of terrestrial and satellite-based wide area networks.
ERNET's satellite WAN uses VSAT technology, which acts as an overlay for the terrestrial WAN by providing backup links between the backbone sites.
Daily traffic over ERNET exceeds 200 GB.
International connectivity is achieved through gateways at New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Kolkata, with a total capacity of 6.64 Mb.
ERNET's architecture is based on the industry standard TCP/IP protocol.
The network had undergone a major upgrade during the year 2000-2001 in association with CMC Ltd.
ERNET backbone is being enabled to support IPv6.
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International Gateway and POP Sites

The ERNET international gateway and PoP sites are the backbone of the ERNET network, enabling organizations to access various services from different geographical locations. These sites are strategically located across the country to provide seamless connectivity.
ERNET Headquarters is located in New Delhi, serving as the central hub for the network. The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing in Mumbai is another key site, providing high-speed connectivity to the western region.
The ERNET network spans across the country, with PoP sites located in various cities. Here are some of the key PoP sites:
- Centre for Development of Advanced Computing, Mumbai
- Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
- Indian Institute of Technology, Madras
- Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Pune
- Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre, Kolkata
- Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur
- Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee
- University of Hyderabad
- Center for Advanced Technology, Indore
- Odisha Computer Application Centre, Bhubaneswar
- Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management, Thiruvananthapuram
- National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology, Gorakhpur
- Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati
- ERNET VSAT HUB, Bangalore
- Tezpur University, Tezpur
- APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University, Thiruvananthapuram
These PoP sites play a crucial role in providing high-speed connectivity to organizations across the country.
Eligibility for Registration
To be eligible for registration under ERNET, institutions must first meet the definition of an Academic/Educational/research Institution. This definition is a crucial step in the registration process.
Institutions that fulfill this definition can then proceed to register their domain name under specific extensions such as edu.in, ac.in, and res.in. These extensions are designed for educational and research institutions.
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To qualify for these extensions, institutions must submit the required relevant documents. The specific documents needed can be found in the registration guidelines.
If your institution meets the eligibility criteria, you can proceed with the registration process. This will enable you to secure a domain name that accurately reflects your institution's identity.
Domain Management
Domain Management is crucial for institutions using ERNET India's services. Domains allocated under certain categories may be suspended or frozen if certain violations occur.
If documents submitted for domain registration are found fake, forged, or wrong, the domain may be suspended. This is a serious matter, as it can compromise the authenticity of the institution.
ERNET India takes the accuracy of contact information and other details seriously. If any information given during registration is found to be inaccurate, suppressed, or concealed, the domain may be suspended.
In cases of disputes among management regarding domain name ownership, ERNET India may decide to suspend or freeze the domain name. The decision of ERNET India is final and binding.
If any direction is received from a government authority, such as the Court, CERT-In, IB, or any Govt. Authority, the domain may be suspended or frozen.
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Nameservers
To appear in the zone file and resolve on the Internet, you'll need to associate at least two valid nameservers with your domain name.
These nameservers must be run for the domain being registered, as they provide the service for translating domain names to IP addresses for hosts in the domain.
You can either run these nameservers yourself, or you can use the nameservers provided by your Internet Service Provider/Web Service Provider (ISP/WSP) or ERNET India.
ERNET India also offers nameserver services, which you can avail if needed.
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Suspension/Freezing of Domains
Suspension/Freezing of Domains can happen if documents submitted for domain registration are found fake or forged. This can lead to a suspension of the domain.
If a domain is being used for purposes other than educational or research, it may also be suspended. This includes activities unrelated to academic or research purposes.
Organizations that are not involved in educational, academic, or research activities after their domain registration may also face suspension. This applies to those registered under edu.in, ac.in, res.in, school.in, alumni.in, विद्या.भारत, शिक्षा.भारत, and शोध.भारत.
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Inaccurate or suppressed contact information given during registration can also result in suspension. ERNET India may suspend the domain in such cases.
A dispute among management regarding the Institution's ownership or management can lead to suspension of the domain. This includes disputes regarding the domain name ownership.
Fraudulent activity found on the website of the registered domain can also cause suspension. ERNET India may decide to suspend or freeze the domain in such cases.
If a direction is given by a Court, CERT-In, IB, or any Govt. Authority, ERNET India may suspend the domain.
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Services and Benefits
ERNET provides two value-added services to registered domain users: Website as a Service (WaaS) and Learning Management as a Service (LMaaS). These services allow users to create websites and LMS for their institutions using user-friendly templates.
With WaaS, the created website will be hosted securely on ERNET servers using SSL certificates. Online payments are the only acceptable payment method for these services.
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ERNET has greatly benefited the education and research sectors in India. Improved access to information and resources is one of the key benefits of ERNET.
ERNET has enabled the sharing of scientific and technological knowledge and resources among educational and research institutions. This has improved the quality of research and education in the country.
ERNET has facilitated the exchange of ideas and knowledge among researchers and educators. This has fostered collaboration and communication among institutions.
Here are some of the key benefits of ERNET:
- Improved access to information and resources
- Enhanced collaboration and communication
- Promoted the development of new technologies
- Supported the growth and advancement of science and technology
- Improved connectivity
What Is the Vision
The vision of ERNET is to provide a national-level networking infrastructure that will facilitate the sharing of knowledge and resources among educational and research institutions in India. This vision aims to promote collaborative research and development activities.
ERNET wants to connect all major educational and research institutions in India through a high-speed network, providing access to a wide range of resources, including databases, journals, and other research materials. This will enable the sharing of scientific and technological knowledge and resources among these institutions.
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The vision of ERNET is to contribute to the development of a world-class education and research system in India. By providing a reliable and high-speed networking infrastructure, ERNET hopes to facilitate the exchange of ideas and knowledge among researchers and students throughout the country.
To achieve its vision, ERNET aims to promote the use of advanced technologies, such as broadband and wireless networking, to support educational and research activities. This will help improve the quality of research and education in the country by providing access to the latest scientific and technological advances.
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Rules and Guidelines
ERNET operates independently from the government and has its own set of rules and regulations that govern its operations and activities.
The board of directors, which consists of representatives from various research and education institutions, as well as experts in the field of computer networking, manages ERNET.
ERNET is funded by the government of India, as well as through contributions from its member institutions.

ERNET provides high-speed Internet connectivity and other communication services to its member institutions, which includes universities, colleges, and other research and education organizations.
ERNET conducts research and development activities in areas such as network security, network management, and network performance optimization.
Here are the key rules and guidelines that govern ERNET's operations:
- ERNET is managed by a board of directors.
- ERNET is funded by the government of India and its member institutions.
- ERNET provides high-speed Internet connectivity and other communication services to its member institutions.
- ERNET conducts research and development activities.
- ERNET promotes the use of advanced technologies and best practices in computer networking.
- ERNET maintains the privacy and security of its member institutions and their users.
- ERNET works closely with other national and international research and education networks.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was ERNET established in India?
ERNET was established in India in 1986, initiated by the Department of Electronics with funding support from the Government of India and UNDP. It was launched with the participation of eight premier institutions.
How to get AC in domain in India?
To register an AC.IN domain in India, visit the ERNET website at http://www.registry.ernet.in and follow their registration procedures. Existing NIC.IN domain holders can also consider registering under AC.IN for a separate online presence.
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