A DNS server is a server that provides a mechanism for translating domain names and IP addresses.
Having a DNS server makes it possible to browse websites and use e-mail, so it is indispensable in Internet technology.
In this article, we will explain the meaning and mechanism of the DNS server, which is indispensable for using the Internet, and introduce the causes and solutions for errors.
table of contents
- 1. What is a DNS server?
- 2. How does the DNS server work?
- 3. DNS server type
- 4. Cause of error
- 5. What to do when an error occurs
- 6. Understand the DNS server that is indispensable for the Internet!
What is a DNS server?
A DNS server is an abbreviation for “Domain Name System”, which is a server that provides a mechanism for converting domain names and IP addresses.
The DNS server is one of the important technologies that support the Internet, and without it, you will not be able to use websites and e-mail.
This is because the alphanumerical domain name that you normally use is different from the IP address (number) that accesses the server device for websites and emails. Therefore, it is necessary to associate the domain name and IP address for conversion. The information to be converted is stored by the DNS server and provided for use on websites and emails.
How does the DNS server work?
To understand the mechanism of the DNS server, I will explain while checking the movement until the website is displayed.
For example, suppose you enter the domain name of a website you care about in a browser such as a personal computer or smartphone.
Then, innumerable DNS servers all over the world cooperate with the domain name to identify the IP address, and the website will be displayed on the browser in an instant. The process at this time is completed in such a short time that few people are aware of this movement when using the Internet regularly.
Also, in the case of an e-mail, it is delivered via the DNS server when sending and receiving to a specific e-mail address, along with the flow of displaying the website.
DNS server type
There are two main types of DNS servers: “cache DNS server” and “authoritative DNS server (content server)”.
| type | Features |
|---|---|
| Cache DNS server | A DNS server that terminals connected to the Internet inquire for name resolution |
| Authorized DNS server (content server) |
DNS server that answers “zone information (conversion table) between domain name (hostname) and IP address” |
● Cache DNS server
The Cache DNS Server is a DNS that a terminal connected to the Internet (such as a personal computer or mobile phone) contacts for name resolution (searching the IP address used by a computer for communication from a domain name). It is a server.
In response to an inquiry from the terminal, find out the authoritative DNS server (described later) that has the “conversion table between a domain name (hostname) and IP address”, and send the final result of name resolution received from it to the terminal. return. At the same time, it keeps the result for a certain period, and if it receives the same inquiry, it returns the retained information without inquiring to the authoritative DNS server.
The cache DNS server is usually prepared and used by an Internet service provider or network administrator, but a server provided by Google free of charge may also be used.
● Authorized DNS server
The Authoritative DNS Server receives inquiries from the cache DNS server and answers “zone information (conversion table) between domain name (hostname) and IP address”. Alternatively, it can instruct a lower authoritative DNS server that is likely to have zone information to find the zone information for the domain name and IP address. Unlike caching DNS servers, authoritative DNS servers typically do not receive direct inquiries from terminals.
By the way, the authoritative DNS server is also called a “content server”.
Cause of error
Maybe some people have seen “DNS server is not responding” while using the Internet. The error “DNS server is not responding” means “The IP address of the website could not be obtained”.
There are various possible reasons for this error, but if you get the above error message, you try to access the DNS server to get the IP address of the website you tried to open, but you get a response. It means that it wasn’t. The reason for the error message is that the IP address of the website could not be obtained, but there are various reasons why it could not be obtained. Here are some of the reasons why you get common error messages.
● I can’t connect to the internet
If you cannot connect to the Internet, the message “DNS server is not responding” is displayed. DNS is a mechanism for translating and linking domain names and IP addresses on the Internet. If you are not connected to the internet, you will not be able to access the DNS server. So first make sure your device is connected to the internet.
● The DNS server is down
The reason for the “DNS server is not responding” error is that the DNS server is down. The reason why the server goes down is that access is concentrated or a DDoS attack (an attack that sends a large amount of information to the target server on multiple computers). If you are connected to the Internet without any problems and still get the error message, your DNS server may be down. Unless there is a serious server down, it will often recover in a few hours, so please wait a while and try reconnecting.
Also, if it doesn’t seem to recover too much, you can try contacting your provider.
● Cannot connect to the DNS server
If you can connect to the Internet but the message “DNS server is not responding” is displayed, it is possible that you cannot connect to the DNS server. In that case, a little knowledge and skill are required, but you can check if you can connect to the DSN server by entering the target command to the computer. If you want to know the status of the DNS server, check the target command and check it.
● The website is closed
You may also receive an error message if your website is closed. If the website is closed, the DNS server will not respond and, of course, the website will not be displayed. If you want to check the website, try using the “Internet Archive Service” as well. Also, if you know the service provider, why not contact us and check the operation status.
What to do when an error occurs
Introducing what to do when a DNS server error occurs.
● Check the cause by network diagnosis
If an error is displayed by the DNS server, first try “Network Diagnosis”. This “Network Diagnostics” is a feature that can also be used on Windows and Mac. By using the network diagnosis function, you can check for problems with your Internet connection and solve the problems.
- For Windows: Click “Network Diagnostics” from the Start menu
- For Mac: Click “Diagnose Internet Connection Status” from Wireless Diagnostics
● Restart the router
If you see the “DNS server is not responding” error, you may try restarting your router to resolve the issue. The router may be the bottleneck in the reason why you cannot connect to the Internet, not because the computer is malfunctioning. If you can’t find the problem on your computer, restart the router and see if the error goes away.
● Reset the router
In addition to restarting the DNS server, resetting the router may also help. The cause of the DNS error may be a setting error on the router side, so if it does not fix even after restarting, try resetting it. By the way, as a method of initializing the router, you can generally initialize the settings by pressing and holding the reset button. At this time, don’t forget to reset the connection destination.
● Restart Windows
If restarting or resetting your router doesn’t help, try restarting Windows. This is because there are cases where DNS errors occur due to temporary problems such as the Windows system or network drivers. Try restarting your computer and then try troubleshooting your network diagnostics.
● Try reconnecting the Wi-Fi handset
If “DNS server is not responding” is displayed, reconnecting the Wi-Fi slave unit may solve the problem. If you are using a USB Wi-Fi handset on your computer, there may be a problem with the Wi-Fi handset. Connect the Wi-Fi handset to another computer once and check if you can connect to the Internet. Also, if the Wi-Fi slave unit is connected to a USB hub, try connecting it directly to the port of your computer.
● Reinstalling the network driver
Reinstalling the network driver may help. Expand the “Network Adapter” tree from “Device Manager”, right-click “Network Adapter Name” and select “Uninstall Device” to uninstall. The network driver will be installed automatically by restarting your computer.
● Confirmation of ISP failure
If you see “DNS server is not responding”, it may be because your ISP is failing. In some cases, a failure has occurred on the Internet provider side, causing a DNS error. Therefore, let’s check if the provider has provided information on the occurrence of a failure. If the cause is a failure, wait until recovery.
● Replace the router
If “DNS server is not responding” is displayed, it may be resolved by replacing the router. The router itself may be out of order. In particular, if you cannot connect to the Internet not only with your computer but also with another terminal, the router may be out of order. If all the workarounds do not resolve the DNS error, consider replacing your router.
● Turn off the delivery optimization function
If you see “DNS server is not responding”, you may be able to resolve it by turning off the delivery optimization feature. In some cases, DNS errors are caused by “delivery optimization” that speeds up Windows updates. In this case, right-click “Windows Mark”, go to “Settings”, go to “Update and Security”, click “Optimize Delivery”, and change “Allow downloads from other PCs” to off. Let’s do it.
Let’s understand the DNS server that is indispensable for the Internet!
DNS server services are provided by various vendors. Therefore, the setting pattern differs depending on which DNS server service is used, so if any error occurs, please understand that there are various solutions and improve them. Also, when using a new DNS server, if you know your company’s domain name and IP address, you should be able to set up the DNS server smoothly. Take this opportunity to deepen your understanding of the DNS server.
If you suddenly lose your connection to the Internet, many people may feel uneasy. However, if you understand how the DNS server works and know how to deal with it, you can deal with it calmly without rushing. By all means, please refer to this article so that you can deal calmly even if you do not connect to the Internet.
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