Understanding DNS (Domain Name System)

Domain Name System (DNS) Overview

• Translates human-readable domain names into IP addresses, allowing users to access websites easily.
• Operates as a hierarchical system managing network addresses and enabling resource identification.

Purpose of DNS Servers

• Acts as intermediaries that facilitate the retrieval of website data by translating domain names into corresponding IP addresses.
• Enables devices to connect to web servers hosting specific resources.

User Accessibility and IP Addresses

• Users typically do not need to remember numeric IP addresses; they can use easily remembered domain names instead.
• Makes internet navigation user-friendly and accessible by simplifying how users think of website locations.

Role of DNS Servers

• Essential in resolving web addresses by retrieving the correct IP addresses from a database of stored information.

Role of DNS Recursor

• Functions as the first point of contact during a DNS query, taking the request from a user and initiating the query process to find the relevant IP address.
• Conducts the necessary queries against various DNS servers to retrieve the final IP address.

Function of Top-Level Domain (TLD) Nameservers

• Responsible for directing queries to the appropriate authoritative nameservers based on the domain extension (e.g., .com, .org).
• Acts as the first layer in the DNS resolution process to facilitate finding the target domain's nameserver.

Master Server vs. Slave Server

• Master servers hold the primary DNS records and can make changes to them, whereas slave servers replicate data from master servers to ensure redundancy.
• Slave servers provide backup and load distribution for nameserver queries.

Primary Role of Recursive DNS Servers

• Manages all aspects of DNS query resolution by searching for the correct IP address through the entire DNS hierarchy.
• Reduces the need for user devices to contact multiple servers directly, streamlining the process.

Authoritative DNS Servers vs. Recursive DNS Servers

• Authoritative servers store the actual DNS records for domains and respond directly to queries about those specific records.
• Recursive servers do not store records but query other servers to locate the correct data, functioning more as a facilitator of the resolution process.

Learn about the Domain Name System (DNS) and how it translates domain names into IP addresses for internet browsing. Discover the role of DNS servers in facilitating communication between devices on the internet.