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DNS

The document explains the Domain Name System (DNS), which translates domain names into IP addresses, allowing users to access websites easily. It details various DNS records, the DNS resolution process, types of DNS servers, and the flow of a DNS query from user input to IP address resolution. Key concepts include domain name hierarchy, DNS caching, and the role of authoritative DNS servers.

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25 views3 pages

DNS

The document explains the Domain Name System (DNS), which translates domain names into IP addresses, allowing users to access websites easily. It details various DNS records, the DNS resolution process, types of DNS servers, and the flow of a DNS query from user input to IP address resolution. Key concepts include domain name hierarchy, DNS caching, and the role of authoritative DNS servers.

Uploaded by

cloud.domain23
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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 DNS (Domain Name System) is the system or protocol that manages how

domain names are translated into IP addresses, enabling users to access


websites and services by using human-readable domain names instead of
numerical IP addresses.
 DNS Records are the tools or entries within the DNS system that hold specific
information about a domain and how it should behave. These records contain
the actual data used by the DNS servers to perform tasks such as resolving
domain names, directing emails, or handling other services.
 DNS Resolution refers to the process of converting a domain name (like
www.example.com) into an IP address (like 192.168.1.1) that computers can
understand and use to establish connections.
Key Concepts of DNS:

 Domain Name Hierarchy:


 Root Domain: The top level, denoted by a dot (.). It is the starting point of the
DNS structure.
 Top-Level Domain (TLD): These include .com, .org, .net, .gov, etc. TLDs are
managed by domain registries.
 Second-Level Domain (SLD): The name immediately to the left of the TLD (e.g.,
example in example.com).
 Subdomains: Any domain that is a part of a larger domain (e.g., www in
www.example.com).
DNS Records:

 A (Address) Record: Maps a domain to an IPv4 address.


 AAAA Record: Maps a domain to an IPv6 address.

 CNAME (Canonical Name) Record: Maps an alias to the canonical domain


name.
 MX (Mail Exchange) Record: Specifies the mail servers for handling email for a
domain.
 NS (Name Server) Record: Specifies the authoritative DNS servers for a
domain.
 PTR (Pointer) Record: Used for reverse DNS lookup, mapping an IP address to
a domain name.
 SOA (Start of Authority) Record: Contains administrative information about the
zone, such as the primary DNS server and contact info.
 TXT Record: Stores arbitrary text data, often used for verification or security
purposes (e.g., SPF records for email security).
 DNS Resolution Process:

 DNS Query: A user’s device (DNS client) sends a query to resolve a domain
name into an IP address.
 Recursive Query: The DNS resolver contacts multiple DNS servers in a
sequence to resolve the domain name.
 Iterative Query: The DNS resolver sends a query to a server, and if it doesn’t
know the answer, it responds with a referral to another DNS server.
 DNS Caching: DNS resolvers and browsers cache DNS records to improve
performance and reduce query times. Cached entries have a Time-to-Live (TTL)
value indicating how long they are valid.
 Types of DNS Servers:

 DNS Resolver: The first point of contact for a DNS query, typically provided by
the ISP. It queries other DNS servers to resolve a name.
 Authoritative DNS Server: Holds the actual DNS records for a domain. It
provides the final answer for a domain query.
 Root DNS Server: The highest level of DNS servers, responsible for directing
queries to appropriate TLD DNS servers.
 Caching DNS Server: Temporarily stores DNS results to improve response
times for repeated queries.
 DNS Zones:

 A DNS Zone is a portion of the DNS namespace managed by a specific


organization or administrator.

 It contains DNS records for one or more domains, and each zone is managed by
a set of authoritative DNS servers.

DNS Query Flow (Simplified):

 User Types Domain: A user types www.example.com in a browser.


 Local DNS Cache: The system checks if the domain is already cached.

 DNS Resolver Query: If not cached, the query is sent to the DNS resolver
(usually the ISP’s DNS server).
 Root DNS Query: If the resolver doesn’t know the IP, it queries the root DNS
server.
 TLD Server Query: The root server redirects the resolver to the appropriate TLD
server (.com in this case).
 Authoritative DNS Server Query: The TLD server directs the query to the
authoritative DNS server for example.com.
 IP Address Resolution: The authoritative server responds with the IP address
for www.example.com.
 Result Sent to Client: The resolver returns the IP address to the client, which
then accesses the website.

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