Seven reasons to use third-party DNS services. What is DNS and how DNS servers ensure the Internet works

First of all, it is necessary to say just a few words about what DNS is and what impact it has on the speed of your connection. In very simple terms, DNS (Domain Name System) is a system for translating website addresses from human language to computer language. That is, when you type the address www.example.ru in the address bar of your browser, it is first sent to a special server, which uses a special database to find the address of the corresponding computer and sends the request to it. From here it becomes clear how important the speed of this service is to the speed of opening pages in your browser.

Typically, users specify the data provided by their provider in connection settings. And this is absolutely correct, because the provider’s DNS service works quite quickly. However, in recent years, quite powerful alternative services have appeared that provide no less, and sometimes even faster, services. First of all, services such as Google DNS come to mind. Is this really so, and which DNS service is the fastest for you, you will learn from this article.

A small free utility called NameBench (Windows, Mac, Linux) will help us solve this problem. It can not only test your current connection, but also select the fastest DNS server specifically for your location. To do this, she does a series of tests, the results of which may surprise you somewhat.

After downloading and launching the program (no installation required), you will be presented with a window containing a number of options. By default, all settings are already set and you don’t need to touch anything. Just check that your country and the browser you are using for surfing are correctly identified. All you have to do is press a button Start Benchmark and be patient. The program will fully automatically perform a series of tests and display the result in the form of a web page.

Oops! It turns out that my current DNS service is almost half as slow as the corresponding service from Google. Here we see all the necessary data for correctly setting up the connection. We go to the properties of the network connection, configure the TCP/IPv4 protocol as needed and try to feel the difference.

After changing your DNS settings, you can check your network speed. It's possible that the adjustments you make will help you browse the web much faster than before. Write about your feelings in the comments, we are interested.

Sometimes it is necessary to register DNS for a computer with a dynamic IP address. A simple way to do this are services like dyndns, described in a recent topic. Sometimes this approach works quite poorly.

For example, in my situation, the provider Sometimes changes my public IP address. This sometimes happens usually once every few months. In addition, my home computer rarely reboots. During this time, the dyndns service, which I had previously used, managed to send me inactivity notifications a couple of times in order to disable the “unused” account. It is also not possible to switch to a manually registered DNS zone, because sometimes the address still changes. Moreover, you usually find out about this when you need access to your home computer here and now.

To implement the described method, you will need a server on the Internet with a DNS server bind on it. As well as a domain zone, the subdomain of which we will allocate for our computer. An option is described for connecting a Linux computer to a Linux server. To use other operating systems, you will need to read the manuals and modify some steps.

So:
1. We have an installed bind9 server with the server.org domain
2. Create a zone client.server.org.zone:

$ORIGIN.
$TTL 10 ; 10 seconds
client.server.net IN SOA ns1.server.net. hostmaster.server.net. (
18; serial
10800 ; refresh (3 hours)
3600 ; retry (1 hour)
604800 ; expire (1 week)
10 ; minimum (10 seconds)
$TTL 3600 ; 1 hour
NS ns1.server.net.
NS ns2.server.net.
MX 10 client.server.net.

Here the servers ns1.server.net and ns2.server.net are the DNS servers for our zone, client.server.net is the address of our home computer

3. generate keys on the client:
client# cd /etc/namedb/keys
client# dnssec-keygen -b 512 -a HMAC-MD5 -v 2 -n HOST client.server.net.

4. Create a file with the key on the server:
server# cd /var/named/chroot/etc
server# vim keys.conf:

Key client.server.net. (
algorithm "HMAC-MD5";
secret "omr5O5so/tZB5XeGuBBf42rrRJRQZB8I9f+uIIxxei8qm7AVgNBprxtcU+FQMzBvU/Y+nyM2xbs/C8kF3eJQUA==";
};

In this case, a symmetric key is used, which is unsafe: if someone has access to the key file on your server, they can use your key to change your zone data. In this case, you can use an asymmetric key.

Set the access rights to the file with the keys:
server# chmod 640 keys.conf
server# chown root:named keys.conf

5. add our zone to named.conf:
include "/etc/keys.conf"
zone "client.server.net" (
type master;
file "zones/client.server.net";
allow-update(
key client.server.net;
};
};

Here is a parameter that allows you to update zone data. In general, after reading the manuals, you can find options for this parameter that allow you to update only one entry in the zone for a given key. That is, you can have a zone with the subdomains client1, client2, etc. registered in it. which will be authorized with the keys key1, key2, etc.

6. Restart the DNS server:
server# /etc/init.d/named reload

7. Create a script on the client that will update the zone data:
#!/bin/bash
IFACE="wlan0"
TTL=3600
SERVER=ns1.example.com
HOSTNAME=foo.example.com
ZONE=example.com
KEYFILE=/root/ddns-keys/Kfoo.example.com.+157+12345.private

New_ip_address=`ifconfig $IFACE | grep "inet addr:" | awk "(print $2)" | awk -F ":" "(print $2)"`
new_ip_address=$(new_ip_address/ /)

Nsupdate -v -k $KEYFILE<< EOF
server$SERVER
zone $ZONE
update delete $HOSTNAME A
update add $HOSTNAME $TTL A $new_ip_address
send
EOF

At the beginning of the script, the corresponding parameters are described: interface, server and zone names, location of the file with the key.

8. All that remains is to configure autostart/automatic address change when changing DNS.
We will do this using a script for NetworkManager:
create a file /etc/NetworkManager/dispatcher.d/20-dyndns.sh:
#!/bin/sh

Iface=$1
state=$2

If [ "x$state" == "xup" ] ; then
/etc/namedb/ddns-update
elif [ "x$state" == "xdown" ]; then
true
fi

Let's make it executable and owned by the root user.

Let's launch, check, use.

Upd: If it doesn’t work, check (set) on the server the rights of named to write to the folder in which the file client.server.org.zone is located
named will create a client.server.org.zone.jnl file there

The following materials were used.

A DNS server is an extremely useful feature to protect your own computer from malicious sites. The process seems difficult for beginners, but in reality everything is much simpler, and the procedure for installing a DNS server will not take much time.

DNS is an acronym derived from Domain Name System. From English to Russian this is translated as “Domain Name System” changing them into IP addresses. And the DNS server stores the corresponding addresses in the database.

The work is carried out in this way: the browser, going to the site, contacts the DNS server to find out the desired address. The Server identifies the site, sends a request to it, and sends the received response back to the user.

How to find out if the DNS server is enabled on your computer

The current DNS server settings are determined as follows:

“Control Panel” -> “Network and Internet” -> “View network status and tasks.” Select your network connection, go to the “General” panel, then go to properties.
Go to the properties of “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)”.
Open the "General" tab. If the option to use the following DNS server addresses is activated, it means it is in working mode.

Repeat the previous steps, activate “Use DNS server”. After this, you will need to specify a primary DNS server, and then a secondary one.

How to configure/change DNS

When making changes or additional settings, you will not need to perform many actions. You must use the window that was opened earlier and go to the “Advanced” item. Here the detailed adjustment of access to DNS servers is carried out. In Windows 7, you can configure all this yourself. Therefore, the question of how to change the DNS server yourself will not cause problems.

DNS suffixes are also available for management. The average user does not need them. This setting, which helps to conveniently share resources, was created for providers.

On a wi-fi router

When using a router, you must set its IP address in the DNS options. To perform these manipulations, you will need DNS relay and DHCP server enabled.

The router interface is designed for checking and subsequent detailed settings. First you need to check the DNS in the WAN port. DNS relay is activated in the LAN port settings.

On the computer

Setting up a DNS server in Windows 10 is similar to the same situation in earlier versions of the OS. First you need to select the “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)” properties. Go to additional options and configure the list of servers.

Setting up a DNS server on a computer and on a laptop is the same.

On a tablet

Depending on the installed operating system, the actions differ somewhat, but they all have the following points in common:

Open the “Wi-Fi” menu located in “Settings”.
Go to the properties of the current Internet connection.
Click “Change network”, then “Show additional parameters”.
Scroll to the DNS servers item, then register them.

On a smartphone

Since now there is not much difference between the operating systems of a phone and a tablet, to set up the necessary DNS servers, it is enough to know the instructions described above.

Possible errors and how to fix them

Problems with Internet operation occur when the DNS server settings are incorrect, including when they unexpectedly fail.

What to do if the server is not responding or is not detected

Most often, this problem occurs when the server is disconnected or the settings are lost. To do this, open the “Control Panel”, go to “System and Security”, then “Administration”. Click on “Services”, find “DNS Client” and double-click on it. The status bar indicates the command “Running”. Otherwise, you need to select automatic startup type from the drop-down list above.

If the service is running but the error still appears, there are server problems. First, it is better to change the DNS server addresses according to the above instructions. However, it is still possible to reinstall the network card drivers, check the Internet connection and ask your provider about possible technical problems.

Doesn't resolve names correctly

If this error occurs, you need to check the correctness of your DNS server settings. It’s better to simply change the DNS server address to get rid of the problem.

Problems are also possible on the operator’s servers, and the problem is solved in the same way - by changing the DNS.

For the inexperienced user, there is a list of high-quality and free servers:

Addresses: 8.8.8.8; 8.8.4.4

Like all Google services, it performs its tasks efficiently, but has a known disadvantage - it collects and stores user statistics. Despite this, the server does not have any access to personal data, so there is no need to worry about security.

If you want to learn more about server work, there is official documentation on the information site.

OpenDNS

Addresses: 208.67.222.222; 208.67.220.220

A popular server due to the presence of a wide range of filters and protection against theft of personal data. Basic functions are free, but it is possible to purchase premium access, which allows you to create a “locked network environment” and increase connection speed.

DNS.WATCH

Addresses: 84.200.69.80; 84.200.70.40

Does not require registration to use, provides a more serious level. The only negative is the low speed.

Norton ConnectSafe

Addresses: 199.85.126.10; 199.85.127.10

It also does not “ask” for pre-registration and securely stores user data. Created by the developers of Norton antivirus, without requiring additional advertising.

Level3 DNS

Addresses: 4.2.2.1; 4.2.2.2

Suitable not only for personal use, but also for corporate purposes. A completely free resource, it ranks third in global popularity.

Comodo Secure DNS

Addresses: 8.26.56.26; 8.20.247.20

The basic version is free, but for some money you can purchase a large number of useful services. It provides reliable data protection in both paid and free versions.

OpenNIC DNS

Addresses: you should go to the project website, it will select the best ones depending on the user’s location.

Due to its huge coverage, it allows you to conveniently explore the Internet anywhere in the world.

DHCP server: what is it and what are its features

Most suitable for networks with a large number of computers due to the transfer of their network settings to all connected devices.

Such a server allows the administrator to specify a range of server hosts and avoid wasting a lot of time on detailed optimization.

It only works with IP address settings and the addresses themselves.

Conclusion

The primary task of DNS servers is to transfer an IP address. Servers from other companies, some of which are described above, can speed up and greatly facilitate Internet surfing. However, it does not require painstaking setup, and many errors can be resolved by using another server.

Every Internet user has at least once wondered: where is all the information from the World Wide Web stored and how do we access it? Every day the worldwide network is expanding, new domains are appearing, and everyone, in order to avoid confusion, must have their own address (DNS server), assigned by large providers. The higher the server’s response speed, the higher the connection speed, while the user can set the server values, but Rostelecom’s DNS is assigned automatically, which makes the task easier.

Despite the fact that one of the largest providers in Russia offers high speed and reliability, and all this thanks to the correct settings. Meanwhile, the number of users is constantly growing, which leads to a decrease in connection speed and interruptions in service. If there are problems with the connection, and sometimes Rostelecom servers also fail, the values set by the provider require adjustment, or, to be more precise, it requires setting up and registering new dns values.

To restore system functionality and speed up Internet connection speed, alternative addresses are used. They are offered by the largest search engines - Google and Yandex, and Google is considered the clear leader in this matter, and when installing DNS from Google, the quality of the connection in most cases improves. Meanwhile, we should not forget that the reason for the poor performance of the system may lie elsewhere. Therefore, before changing the Rostelecom DNS server, you need to make sure that the cause of the malfunction is in the operation of the provider’s equipment, and for this you will have to perform a number of simple manipulations.

Important! This method is only available to users using the Windows operating system.

Make sure there is a network connection.
Going to the “Run” tab in the “Start” menu, type a simple combination of characters “cmd”.
In the window that opens, you will have to enter the following set of characters: “ping google.com”.

If the user sees his computer data on the screen, you can be sure that the service is running and there are no connection problems. If the service is not working properly, you will not see the computer address, but this is not a cause for concern. Now you will have to check the operation of the service, for which you will also need to perform a series of sequential actions. And again you will have to repeat the first step of the instructions to make sure that your computer name is missing. We repeat the sequence of actions again, but this time we enter not alphabetic, but numeric characters - the values of the main gateway and subnet mask in the form of a ten-digit number.

Why do you need a DNS address and what is it?

The question of what a DNS server is for Rostelecom, and why it is needed, in principle, worries many users. Without delving into technical details, we can say that these servers store information, access to which becomes possible at the request of users. That is, the DNS service, having received such a request, converts it to a specific IP address, which opens on the user’s computer.

The DNS server itself, at its core, is a large computer through which this service exists. If, at the client’s request, this address is not found, the device turns to the same Google and Yandex services, where any information can be found. Applications used by users include DNS server services such as WWW search, instant messaging, and email. What DNS values should be prescribed to Rostelecom clients.

Which DNS addresses should Rostelecom users register?

As already mentioned, Internet users from Rostelecom are assigned DNS addresses automatically, and they don’t have to think too much about their settings. As for alternative addresses, primary attention should be paid to the search engines Google and Yandex. It is clear that without DNS, working on the network will be impossible, and if automatic installation of server parameters does not increase Internet speed, manual configuration of the DNS server network is required. The question remains of how to safely change the address, because there are plenty of scammers on the Internet hunting for information that is on users’ personal computers.

How to change DNS address on a computer

How to check the performance of Rostelecom servers has already been said above, we also mentioned how to manually configure DNS from Google and Yandex. But you need to start everything by looking for alternative servers to connect to, of which there are a huge number. In particular, you will have to search for the preferred DNS server for Rostelecom, and in different regions they will be different. A special program will help you find such a server, one of which is the DNS Benchmark utility. With its help, you will understand which server to register for the Rostelecom Internet. Having selected a suitable server, we proceed to manual settings. To get a constant high-speed connection using new DNS servers, you will have to change some computer connection parameters.

Once you are convinced that there is a problem on the Rostelecom server, you will need to replace the default values and connect an alternative address. To do this, you will have to go to the network control center (in the device control panel) and perform a series of simple steps.

First you need to go to connection management, where the settings will be made.
On the properties tab, select the IP v4 parameters that you want to edit.
To make changes, the default automatic mode must be changed to manual.
Next, enter the preferred and alternative addresses - the values that the program will offer. If you decide to use the Google server, then you will have to enter the value 8.8.8.8 in the address field, and a combination of the following characters in the DNS field: 8.8.4.4.

Remember! After manually changing the DNS settings, there is no need to configure the IP address, as it will be configured automatically.

After you have connected an alternative, preferred DNS server, the Internet should work correctly, and pages should open quickly. The same will happen if you use Yandex services, and in this case, when manually setting connection parameters, you need to enter the values: 77.88.8.8 and 77.88.8.1. The above settings apply to one computer, and if you are used to using several devices at the same time, you will have to make similar settings in the router control panel.

In our age of computer technology, a lot depends on the speed of the Internet and the security of the network, so before you start replacing the DNS server, you need to carefully weigh the pros and cons, assessing the possible risks. The least that can happen is that the Internet will not work better, since not everyone can configure it correctly. In the worst case, you may enter a dubious address, which will lead to the loss of personal data, including passwords from payment systems. Therefore, you should not rush, since problems are often temporary, and Rostelecom specialists have learned to deal with them quickly. In any case, contacting technical support will not hurt.

As a rule, the time that the system spends connecting to the DNS server when visiting web resources is small. Most often, those servers that the provider uses by default work stably and quickly. However, there are situations when standard DNS is not fast enough. In this case, you can try changing the server.

Google Public DNS

According to the developers themselves, this DNS can significantly speed up the loading of web pages. In order to use this server, in the connection settings you need to specify addresses 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 for the primary and secondary DNS, respectively.

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Following Google's example, Yandex developed its own alternative DNS server. In addition, the developers have added family control capabilities in case there is a need to block potentially dangerous resources. To use DNS without filtering functions, you must enter the address 77.88.8.8 in the connection settings. If you enter the address 77.88.8.88, you can use the filtering functions for dangerous resources. If you enter the address 77.88.8.7, you will activate filtering of dangerous sites and porn resources.

This service is quite popular on the Internet and for good reason. OpenDNS allows you to use modern methods of Internet security, is fast and has many nice features, for example, the function of correcting typos in typed addresses.

The service has paid and free modes.

Free mode with standard settings is available at the following addresses:

208.67.222.222
208.67.220.220

SkyDNS

This service is a leader on the Russian-language Internet in the field of security and filtering of unwanted content. As the developer himself assures, the service is used by tens of thousands of users, large companies, Internet providers, etc. Paid and free modes are available.

Connecting to the free mode is available after completing the registration procedure, which does not take much time. To use SkyDNS, you will be asked to download a small SkyDNS Agent application, or provide your IP. However, you can use the service without installing the application.

To do this, you will need to specify the DNS address 193.58.251.251.

In addition, to find a suitable DNS, you can use the appropriate software, of which there is a lot on the Internet.