DNS: Guide to Understanding Domain Name System
The Domain Name System (DNS) is an important part of websites. DNS is a system that helps associate your domain with an assigned IP address.
In this article, we will discuss:
How Does DNS Work?
DNS servers point your domain name to your hosting provider so browsers can load the website. Once you type the domain name into your internet browser, your internet browser searches for the IP address assigned to the domain name. Once your IP address is located, your internet browser will populate the website. This means you must set up the nameservers for people to view your website.
If your services are all with Web.com, your nameservers are automatically set up. However, you can edit your records, which is helpful if you want to keep one of your services active with one provider and host your service with another provider.
What is Advanced DNS?
Advanced DNS (ADNS) records are individual records within the Domain Name System. These records allow you to point your domain or email to another service or provider, change your IP address, modify where your emails are sent, increase email and DNS security, and more. Advanced DNS is separated into different types of records.
- A Record (IP Address): Maps the domain or subdomain to its numeric IP Address.
- AAAA Record (IPV6 Address): Maps the domain or hostname to its numeric IP address. It can redirect your host from one IP Address to another.
- CAA (Certificate Authority Authorization) Record: Allows you to restrict certificate providers for your domain. This gives you control over who can issue a certificate on your domain or subdomain.
- CNAME (Canonical Name) Record: An alias (host alias) for the domain. Allows traffic for the domain name to be redirected elsewhere.
- DKIM: Adds a digital signature to outgoing messages to verify your email address is valid.
- DMARC: The Domain-Based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance Policy is used to publish information on how an email should be handled (e.g., do nothing, quarantine the message, or reject it).
- DNSSEC: Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC) adds security to your domain to ensure the connection is secure.
- MX (Mail Exchange) Record: A mail route to determine where your emails are delivered. This is required to receive email messages.
- NS Record: Point a subdomain to a hosting provider.
- SPF (Sender Policy Framework) Record: A TXT record that helps stop email spammers from forging the From fields in an email.
- SRV (Service) Record: Locates a specific service (such as a printer, VoIP, or FTP) on a network rather than one particular machine.
- TXT (Text) Record: Text information for your host or other sources.
If you have your domain name and hosting with us, the ADNS Records are already configured to utilize your services. However, these records can be modified if you want to keep one of your services active with one provider and host another service with another provider or add security with one of your services, such as email.
What is Reverse DNS?
Reverse DNS is the opposite of how DNS works. This is when the IP address is entered, and a search is initiated for the domain name assigned to the IP address. Reverse DNS is most often used with email servers. Since this is not required for your domain name to work correctly, not every company has this option available.
What are Zone Files?
Zone files are text files that follow a specific format. DNS is separated into different zones (like a hierarchy), and each zone has a primary zone server at the top (also called a root server). These root servers store what's called a zone file. These files contain all the information about your domain's zone, such as the domain, subdomain, and advanced DNS records.
Review
Understanding how DNS works is important so you know how to troubleshoot issues with DNS when you encounter one. In this guide, you will learn more about DNS, Advanced DNS, Reverse DNS, and Zone files.
- DNS is a system that helps associate your domain name with an assigned IP address.
- Advanced DNS records allow you to point your domain or email to another service or provider, change your IP address, modify where your emails are sent, increase email and DNS security, and more.
- Reverse DNS is the opposite of how DNS works. This is when the IP address is entered, and a search is initiated for the domain name assigned to the IP address.
- Zone files contain all the information about your domain's zone and advanced DNS records.