.bitnet

.bitnet
Introduced 1985
TLD type Pseudo-domain-style host 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 Domain Name System (DNS) root, but were sometimes used in addresses during the time when non-Internet networks remained in wide use.