LOS ANGELES - The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) announced the availability of the Registry System Testing (RST) v2.0 service. RST ensures that registry operators (ROs) have the technical capacity to operate a generic top-level domain (gTLD) in a stable and secure manner, according to the official website of ICANN. 

One of the primary uses of the new and improved platform is to evaluate the technical capabilities of applicants in the New gTLD Program: Next Round Registry Service Provider (RSP) Evaluation Program. All RSPs that participate in the New gTLD Program must clear technical testing using RST v2.0, and all new gTLD applicants must specify which successfully evaluated RSP(s) will deliver their critical registry services.

RST v2.0 also will be used for Pre-Delegation Testing (PDT), which must be completed by prospective ROs before submitting a delegation request for a gTLD.

RST v2.0 improves on RST v1.0 by making the testing process more efficient for current gTLDs, allowing multiple tests to run in parallel and reducing overall testing time.

One of the key features of RST v2.0 is its self-service capability, which eliminates the need for manual testing by skilled engineers as required in the previous version. The new service also includes an Operational Testing and Evaluation (OT&E) environment, which enables current and prospective ROs and RSPs to develop and validate their implementations prior to a formal technical evaluation in a production setting.

ICANN encourages community members to explore the new platform by using the OT&E environment and call out any areas that may need further development.