Understand the Domain Name System

Ever wonder why DNS systems came into existence? Efficiency. Every computer has a distinct IP address, and the Internet needed an elite method for obtaining these addresses and for managing the system as a whole. Enter ICANN.

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Number manages the DNS root of the Internet domain namespace. ICANN's role is to manage the assignment of identifiers, ensuring that all users have unique names.

The DNS system is run by a series of servers called DNS servers. ICANN manages the root DNS domains, under which are the top-level domains.
It also manages:

Organizational domains
Geographical domains
Reverse domains

Beneath the top-level domains are other naming authorities such as Nominet, the UK's naming authority.

How does a DNS Query work?

The process occurs in two parts. Firstly, a name query begins at a client computer and is passed to DNS client service for resolution. When the query cannot be resolved locally, DNS servers are queried.

For example, when a web browser calls the fully qualified domain name www.discountdomainsuk.com, the request is passed on to the DNS client service to resolve the name by using locally cached information. If the query is held in the cache, then the process is complete.

If, however, the query cannot be answered locally, the DNS client service uses a server list (ordered in sequence) to query external DNS servers. When a DNS server receives a query, it first checks to see if it is authoritive for that domain name. If it is authoritive, it resolves the name, and the process is complete.

If the DNS server is unable to resolve the query, it in turns queries other DNS servers, using a process known as recursion. DNS servers make use of root hints to assist in locating DNS servers, which are able to provide the required result. In this way, DNS queries are minimised and the Internet is able to operate quickly and effectively.

A typical query may run as follows:

Client contacts Nameserver A looking for www.discountdomainsuk.com.

Nameserver A checks its cache, but can't answer, so it queries a server authoritive for the Internet root.

The root server responds with a referral to a server authoritive for the .com domains. NameserverA queries the the .com server and gets referred to the server authoritive for www.discountdomainsuk.com.

Nameserver A queries this server and gets the IP address for www.discountdomainsuk.com.

Nameserver A replies to the client with the IP address.

Queries can return answers that are authoritive, positive, negative or referral in nature. In the event of a negative answer, another DNS server is queried.

---------------------------------------------
Clare Lawrence is CEO of Discount Domains Ltd ? A leading UK provider of Domain name registration and Web Hosting services. Please feel free to re-publish this article provided this reference box remains together with a hyperlink to http://www.discountdomainsuk.com Clare can also be contacted on clare@discountdomainsuk.com.
---------------------------------------------

---

Top Stories - Google News Updated : Wed, 08 Sep 2010 02:32:58 GMT+00:00 Sharp aftershock rattles quake-weary New Zealand city - Reuters Telegraph.co.uk Sharp aftershock rattles quake-weary New Zealand city Reuters WELLINGTON, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Authorities in New Zealand's quake-ravaged Christchurch city extended a state of emergency for another seven days on Wednesday, as a strong aftershock cut power and closed a key highway, with the region told it can expect ... Quake: Canterbury state of emergency extendedStuff.co.nz Christchurch Extends State of Emergency for Week as Aftershocks ContinueBloomberg 5.1 aftershock shakes fragile CanterburyNew Zealand Herald BBC News -Telegraph.co.uk -Sydney Morning Herald all 5,338 news articles » Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Sep 2010 23:44:19 GMT+00:00 Its power spent, remnants of Hermine heads north - Houston Chronicle Boston Globe Its power spent, remnants of Hermine heads north Houston Chronicle AP Texas News By PAUL J. WEBER AP Writer © 2010 The Associated Press RAYMONDVILLE, Texas — Its power spent, the remnants of Tropical Storm Hermine continues to drench north and central Texas with a tropical deluge. A flash flood watch was in effect for ... Hermine slips to depression as it sloshes through TexasTampabay.com Hermine is downgraded to a tropical depressionNOLA.com Tropical Storm Hermine Adds Power; Landfall Possible Monday -NHCWall Street Journal News 8 Austin -KWTX -USA Today all 2,693 news articles » Publ.Date : Wed, 08 Sep 2010 01:30:15 GMT+00:00 French strike over plan to raise retirement age - Los Angeles Times BBC News (blog) French strike over plan to raise retirement age Los Angeles Times More than a million take to the streets to protest the move, which Sarkozy says is needed to reduce the country's deficit. Private- and public-sector workers demonstrate over pension reforms in Strasbourg, France. (Jean-Marc Loos / Reuters / September ... Sarkozy, labor unions face showdown over pension reformXinhua French Unions Escalate Protests Against Pension ReformWall Street Journal France: Protests over pensions bring over a million onto boulevardsThe Guardian BusinessWeek -Sydney Morning Herald -Voice of America all 1,515 news articles » Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Sep 2010 21:43:54 GMT+00:00 Obama to unveil more stimulus, tax breaks for business - Washington Post Washington Post Obama to unveil more stimulus, tax breaks for business Washington Post With Democrats facing dismal prospects in the November elections, the party is weighing President Barack Obama's role in the midterms. By Lori Montgomery President Obama plans Wednesday to officially unveil more than $180 billion in fresh spending and ... Palm Beach County businesses hopeful, skeptical about tax breaksPalm Beach Post Obama Infrastructure Plan To Stir Fight - House RepublicanWall Street Journal Suddenly, a raft of tax-break proposals from ObamaThe Associated Press The Washington Independent -Washington Times -89.3 KPCC all 3,975 news articles » Publ.Date : Wed, 08 Sep 2010 01:16:22 GMT+00:00 Grim outlook for Democrats puts House up for grabs - The Associated Press USA Today Grim outlook for Democrats puts House up for grabs The Associated Press WASHINGTON — Disgruntled voters, a sluggish economy and vanishing enthusiasm for President Barack Obama have put 75 seats or more in the House — the vast majority held by Democrats — at risk of changing hands and putting Republicans in charge. ... GOP set for big congressional gains in DixieSouthern Political Report Democratic Primary Turnout Lowest in 80 Years, Study ShowsCBS News Election-cash spigots running at full blastWashington Times Lynchburg News and Advance -USA Today -CQPolitics.com all 1,211 news articles » Publ.Date : Wed, 08 Sep 2010 00:02:28 GMT+00:00 Business laments end of close working relationship with Mayor Richard Daley - Chicago Tribune Telegraph.co.uk Business laments end of close working relationship with Mayor Richard Daley Chicago Tribune Chicago's business community, which repeatedly stood and delivered for Mayor Richard Daley as he reshaped a once-sagging industrial city, was shaken to learn Tuesday that he is stepping aside as the ... From Chicago's 'Mayor for Life,' a Decision Not to RunNew York Times Chicago Mayor Richard Daley says he will not run for re-electionLos Angeles Times Will Rahm Emanuel Run for Chicago Mayor?Newsweek Politico (blog) -ABC7Chicago.com -Chicago Breaking News - Tribune all 858 news articles » Publ.Date : Wed, 08 Sep 2010 01:31:38 GMT+00:00 US religious leaders condemn "anti-Muslim" frenzy - Reuters Globe and Mail US religious leaders condemn "anti-Muslim" frenzy Reuters WASHINGTON (Reuters) - US religious leaders on Tuesday condemned an "anti-Muslim frenzy" in the United States, including plans by a Florida church to burn a Koran on September 11, an act a top general said could endanger American ... Reaction to proposed Koran burning doesn't faze Florida churchLos Angeles Times In Florida, Many Lay Plans to Counter a Pastor's MessageNew York Times Evangelical Christian Group in Florida Plans to Burn KoransVoice of America Wall Street Journal -msnbc.com -Christian Science Monitor all 3,083 news articles » Publ.Date : Wed, 08 Sep 2010 02:24:30 GMT+00:00 RSS For Web Pages Increase Web Traffic

Domain Name Trademarks

As your Internet business grows, the value of your domain... Read More

Your Domain Name, Your Business Address

Would you purchase anything from someone with a "@yahoo.com" or... Read More

Liberalization of in-Domains?

Communications and IT Minister Dayanidhi Maran has -as Hindustan Times... Read More

Domain Name Secrets Revealed

If internet is about interactivity between websites, domain name is... Read More

Is Your Domain Costing You Traffic?

You visited a great website some time ago that had... Read More

E-Business: Domain Names - Bad Faith

Ian McMillan registered the internet domain name TrivialPursuits.net and won... Read More

Protect Your Domain Name or Risk Losing It

Your domain name is an important part of your brand... Read More

Whats in a Domain Name?

You've decided to start up your own website. You've weighed... Read More

The Sub-Domain - An Affiliates Friend

It's surprising, at least to me, the amount of Affiliates... Read More

Secrets of Expired Domain Name Traffic

One of the biggest challenges to a webmaster is how... Read More

Is Your Domain Name On Someones Wanted List?

A good domain name is, and will always be, essential... Read More

Do You Have a Good .Com Name? What is One So Important!

A domain can leave an imprint on the mind of... Read More

Cheap and Easy Domain Name Registration

Just like any business, your identity is very important. On... Read More

Why to Register md-Domains?

What is .md?.md is the web address that identifies you,... Read More

How Can You Choose the Best Domain Name?

It's all in the NameThe domain you use for a... Read More

A Winning Domain Name

The domain name is one of the most important decisions... Read More

8 Tips for Choosing a Domain Name

If you're just starting out on the Internet, choosing a... Read More

Domain Parking Explained

Domain names are being snapped up all the time so... Read More

How to Profit with Domain Name Speculation

Domain Name speculation has become big business. According to recent... Read More

How to Register an Expiring Domain

Understanding the process and options involved with registering an expiring... Read More

Making Money with Expired Domains

There are billions of websites and thousands more popping up... Read More

How to avoid copyright infringment in your domain name

One of the most important aspects of choosing a domain... Read More

Virtual Airport

Aero Registrar Secura GmbH proposes to the IT departments of... Read More

Expired Domains Explained

It is annoying to find that you have a great... Read More

Domain Name Forwarding and Search Engines

You own a single site, but several domains - perhaps... Read More