isc

ISC commonly refers to the Internet Systems Consortium, a nonprofit organization that develops, maintains, and distributes software for Internet infrastructure. It was founded in 1994 as the Internet Software Consortium and renamed in 2003 to reflect a broader scope. The organization is based in the United States and focuses on building reliable, open-source solutions that underlie critical network services.

The ISC’s activities center on open-source software for Internet infrastructure, including reference implementations, testing tools, documentation, and community support. It collaborates with other standards bodies and the IETF to improve core technologies such as domain name systems, DHCP, and related protocols. The goal is to provide robust, portable software that can be used worldwide in diverse environments.

Notable projects associated with ISC include the BIND DNS server (Berkeley Internet Name Domain), one of the most widely deployed DNS implementations for authoritative and recursive services. The organization also develops and maintains the ISC DHCP server and Kea, a newer, modular DHCP server designed to complement or replace the legacy ISC DHCP in some deployments. In addition to these, ISC contributes libraries and ancillary tools that support its core products and DNS-related workflows.

ISC also refers to the ISC license, a permissive free software license created by the organization. The license is short and two-clause, granting permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute the software provided that the copyright notice and this permission notice appear in all copies. It disclaims warranties and limits liability, making it compatible with a wide range of projects.

Governance and funding for ISC come from donations, sponsorships, and revenue from software licensing and services. The organization emphasizes open source, long-term maintenance, and support for Internet infrastructure worldwide.