Category: DNS

What is DNS cache?

The DNS is the world’s address book that makes possible the current Internet. It is a well-recognized name system that connects domain names and IP addresses. The system is decentralized thanks to the DNS delegation, and it is separated into various DNS zones, but it is still very busy. To lower the traffic, we use a method of saving temporary DNS records called DNS cache.

​DNS cache explained.

The DNS cache is a type of cache memory (temporary) that devices and DNS resolvers have that contains all previously used DNS records of the queried domain names. Those records have the IP addresses of the domain names and their subdomains, data for their services, information about their email server, verification and authentication information, etc. The data will be saved inside this DNS cache, based on the TTL (Time to Live) value that each DNS record has.

​How can DNS cache save time and Internet bandwidth?

Let’s follow one DNS query and see how the DNS cache can save time.

Each time a client visits a domain name, it needs to get the A or AAAA records for it.

  1. First, it will check its own DNS cache. There is a file on each computer that saves previously visited domain names for the time TTL defines. If it is there, the site will be visited without any DNS query to a DNS resolver.
  2. If it is not inside the computer’s DNS cache, a query will be made to a DNS resolver (like the one in your Internet service provider ISP). If it has it inside, it will return the answer, and the client can visit the site without any more waiting. If no, it will start a long searching for the answer starting from the Root, then the TLD servers, and finally the domain name’s authoritative server.
  3. The good thing is that again, after the right DNS records are found, they will stay inside the DNS cache of the DNS resolver and the DNS cache of the client’s computer too.

The DNS resolver of an ISP will save DNS records of all visited domain names, of all clients that asked it for an answer. That way, there is a better chance to have it inside the cache memory the next time a client asks for a domain name.

​Can you delete the DNS cache?

Yes, you can delete it. However, there is a different process depending on your OS and your browser that could have another separate DNS cache. Let’s see how to do it.

​Windows

  1. Open the Command Prompt or Windows PowerShell and write this command – ipconfig /flushdns.
  2. You will see a confirmation message that the DNS was flushed successfully.

​macOS

  1. Open the Terminal and write this command – sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder. Then put in your password and press the Enter.
  2. Done.

​Linux (Ubuntu 20.04 LTS)

  1. Open the Terminal and write this command – sudo systemd-resolve –flush-caches. Then put in your sudo password and press the Enter.
  2. Done.

​Google Chrome (on Edge or Opera works similarly)

  1. Copy this text – chrome://net-internals/#dns. Paste it into your address bar and press Enter.
  2. On the page that it loads find Host resolver cache and click on Clear host cache.
  3. Done.

​Safari 

  1. Go to Preferences and then Advanced. There find Show develop menu in menu bar. 
  2. There, find Develop and then Empty Caches.
  3. Restart your browser, and you are done. 

What is DNS and how does it work?

The DNS is the reason why the Internet is even possible. It is the backbone. It is the one that facilitates the connection between hostnames, services, servers, IP addresses, and more. The DNS is a complicated, a bit old system that we use hundreds or even thousands of times a day.  

What is DNS?

DNS means domain name system. It is a hierarchy directory, where hostnames (domains) match IP addresses (numbers). It is the so much needed translator between us, the humans and the machines – servers.  We use easy to remember names that finish with TLDs (top-level domains like .com). Computers, on the other hand, work with IP addresses (like 130.211.0.0). 

DNS elements

  • DNS record. The DNS records are small text files that serve a specific purpose. The A record, for example, connects domain names and IP addresses. There are plenty of DNS types.
  • DNS query. Each query searches for a DNS record. The query starts from a device and hops from a DNS server to another until one can resolve it. 
  • DNS authoritative server. This is the primary server that has the zone file. It could be further away from the users, but it will have the most up to date data. 
  • DNS recursive server. This one is kind of a middle man. It has a cache memory where it can save DNS records. The recursive server will save the information from the moment a DNS query gets successfully answered and passes through it until the moment the DNS record gets too old (depends on the TTL value). Such a server searches for the DNS records if it does not have it.  

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The 4 most famous DDoS attacks in the history

Cybercrime costs billions of loss every year. Unfortunately, Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks are a plague that targets all kinds of victims: profit and non-profit organizations, international ventures, new entrepreneurships, and more. Your business can be the target. One day, you just experience traffic loads with weird behavior. All your online services (website, email, etc.) work so slow or get totally stopped and inaccessible. The nightmare of a DDoS attack gets real. Criminals are taking your business down.

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DNSSEC – Why use it?

Do you already know what DNS is? Recently I talked about it, so now we will explore one of its problems, security. The DNS was created almost 50 years ago when the internet was young and small. Now we need to patch it, and here it comes, DNSSEC. DNSSEC is the fix that could sustain the security of all the information going around. 

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Top 6 DNS record types – list

There are plenty of types of DNS records. More than 50 types of DNS records (for example CNAME, ALIAS, AAAA, etc.) are still in use, and at least the same number is already absolute. You don’t need all of them all the time. Let’s talk about the essentials. The top 6 DNS record types that you can’t manage your DNS without. 

A Record

We can’t skip the A DNS record from any DNS list. It is probably the best-known record type. The purpose of the A record is to direct, to point a hostname to its IP address. When we talk about A record, the address is IPv4 (32-bit). There is a newer AAAA record type that uses IPv6 addresses (128-bit). 

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