DNS-stands-for

DNS within the network

DNS (Domain Name System) is a vital component of the internet that helps translate human-readable domain names into IP addresses. In essence, DNS is responsible for directing your computer to the right server to load the website you want to access. While we often hear about DNS in the context of the internet at large, DNS is also used within local networks to manage local resources. In this blog, we will discuss DNS within the network, how it is used, and the DNS process.

What is DNS within the network?

 

DNS within the network refers to the use of DNS to manage local resources within an organization or enterprise. When an organization sets up a local network, it may have its own domain name (e.g., company.com) that is used to identify its resources. DNS within the network is used to map the domain name of the resources to their corresponding IP addresses.

How is DNS used within the network?

DNS within the network is used to manage local resources such as servers, printers, and other devices that are connected to the network. When a user tries to access a local resource by its domain name, the DNS within the network will translate the domain name to the IP address of the resource. This allows the user to access the resource without having to know its IP address.

DNS Process

The DNS process involves several steps that must take place for a user to access a website or resource.

Step 1: The User Enters a URL

When a user enters a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) into their browser, the browser will first check its cache to see if it has the IP address of the website. If the browser has the IP address, it will connect to the website using the IP address. If the browser does not have the IP address, it will initiate a DNS query to resolve the domain name.

Step 2: The DNS Query

When the browser initiates a DNS query, it sends a request to the local DNS resolver. The local DNS resolver is a server that is configured to handle DNS requests for the local network. The request includes the domain name that the browser is trying to resolve.

Step 3: The Local DNS Resolver Searches Its Cache

The local DNS resolver will first check its cache to see if it has the IP address for the domain name. If it has the IP address, it will return the IP address to the browser, and the browser will connect to the website using the IP address.

Step 4: The Local DNS Resolver Queries the Root DNS Servers

If the local DNS resolver does not have the IP address for the domain name, it will initiate a query to the root DNS servers. The root DNS servers are a network of servers that are responsible for maintaining a database of all the top-level domain names (e.g., .com, .org, .net).

Step 5: The Root DNS Servers Refer the Query to the TLD DNS Servers

The root DNS servers will refer the query to the TLD (Top-Level Domain) DNS servers based on the top-level domain of the domain name being queried. For example, if the domain name being queried is www.google.com, the root DNS servers will refer the query to the .com TLD DNS servers.

Step 6: The TLD DNS Servers Refer the Query to the Authoritative DNS Servers

The TLD DNS servers will refer the query to the authoritative DNS servers for the domain name being queried. The authoritative DNS servers are the servers that are responsible for maintaining the DNS records for the domain name.

Step 7: The Authoritative DNS Servers Respond with the IP Address

The authoritative DNS servers will respond to the query with the IP address of the domain name. The local DNS resolver will cache the IP address for future use, and it will return the IP address to the browser.

Step 8: The Browser Connects to the Website Using the IP Address

Finally, with the IP address of the website, the browser can connect to the website server, which will send the requested webpage back to the browser for display.

Conclusion

DNS within the network is essential for managing local resources and making them accessible to users via their domain names. The DNS process involves several steps that must take place for a user to access a website or resource. By understanding how DNS within the network works, network administrators can ensure that their resources are accessible and can troubleshoot any issues that may arise.