These were actual DNS queries for a particular domain name but the traffic was adequate to flood server resources and network connections on 4 of 13 Internet root servers.

Root servers are the common name given to the Webs important name servers that serve the DNS zone. These root servers are a part of a network of hundreds of servers found across the world that offer important domain name to IP address resolution.

The reasons for this kind of assault are unclear as disabling a root server is not going to get a serious effect online as there are thousands and a huge number of other DNS servers handling DNS queries. Regardless of this, any assault online infrastructure is taken incredibly seriously.