First of all, the root servers would just be overwhelmed.

The root servers have the official names a.root-servers.net to m.root-servers.net.

As of November 2012 there were 345 root servers worldwide.

So by the end of this year we're going to finally get the root servers signed.

And so these 13 root servers, which are named a.root-servers.net through m.root-servers.net.

And it's, I mean, the root servers were only just recently signed.

What really prevents anyone from setting up their own root servers?

Network Solutions would turn over control of the root server to the nonprofit organization.

The problem with the root servers is that they're "anycasted."

The zone was added to the root servers on March 19, 2013.