DNS for Beginners: Simple Guide to How the Internet Works

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DNS for Beginners: Simple Guide to How the Internet Works



The Domain Name System (DNS) is like the phonebook of the internet. It translates human-friendly domain names like pinoytechshare.blogspot.com into IP addresses that computers understand. In this guide, we'll break down DNS in simple terms for beginners.

1. How DNS Works

When you type a website address in your browser:

  1. Your device asks a resolver (usually your ISP) to find the IP address.
  2. The resolver checks its cache. If not found, it queries the root DNS servers.
  3. Root servers point to TLD servers (like .com, .org).
  4. TLD servers point to the authoritative server for the domain.
  5. The resolver gets the IP and your browser connects to the website.

2. Common DNS Record Types

  • A record: Maps a domain to an IPv4 address.
  • AAAA record: Maps a domain to an IPv6 address.
  • CNAME: Alias of another domain.
  • MX: Mail exchange server for email delivery.
  • NS: Nameserver for the domain.
  • TXT: Text information, often for verification or SPF/DKIM.

3. DNS Security Basics

DNS can be vulnerable to attacks like spoofing or cache poisoning. Using DNSSEC helps verify that DNS data comes from the correct source.

4. Changing Your DNS Settings

You can use public DNS servers for faster or more private browsing:

  • Google DNS: 8.8.8.8 / 8.8.4.4
  • Cloudflare DNS: 1.1.1.1 / 1.0.0.1
  • OpenDNS: 208.67.222.222 / 208.67.220.220

On Windows, you can change this in Network Settings → Adapter → Properties → IPv4 → DNS. On Linux, update /etc/resolv.conf or your network manager settings.

5. Useful DNS Tools

Check DNS records using these command-line tools:

  • nslookup example.com
  • dig example.com
  • host example.com

Conclusion

DNS is the backbone of how the internet works. By understanding it, you can troubleshoot network issues, configure faster or safer DNS, and even run your own local DNS caching server.

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