GoKawiilHobbyist shows how to claim a free .arpa subdomain via Hurricane Electric's tunnelbroker
A blogger detailed a workaround for obtaining a personal domain under .arpa, the top-level domain normally reserved for internet infrastructure and closed to public registration. By signing up for a free IPv6 tunnel through Hurricane Electric's tunnelbroker.net service, users can claim reverse-DNS records under ip6.arpa and repurpose them to host arbitrary DNS entries, effectively creating a working website address ending in .arpa.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The trick highlights how loosely specified internet protocols, like reverse DNS lookups, can be repurposed for unintended creative uses when registration systems lack real verification. It's a reminder that infrastructure meant for narrow technical functions can become a playground for novelty projects, though it also underscores gaps in how some registries validate ownership of IP addresses.
- The .arpa TLD is reserved for internet infrastructure and not open to public registration.
- Hurricane Electric's tunnelbroker.net lets users claim free IPv6 tunnels and control ip6.arpa reverse DNS records.
- The IPv4 endpoint verification only checks for a ping response, not actual ownership, enabling this workaround.
O'Reilly "DNS and BIND" book — If tinkering with ip6.arpa reverse zones and PTR records sounds fun, this classic O'Reilly reference walks through how DNS zones, delegation and reverse lookups actually work. It's the go-to desk companion for anyone running their own name server or hacking together clever domain tricks.
See O'Reilly "DNS and BIND" book on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: hawksley.dev — Ethan Hawksley, 2026-08-31
Published there as: “How to get a free .arpa domain”
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