What is DNS?
DNS (Domain Name System) is like the master directory of the internet. It converts the website names into numbers
(IP addresses). These IP addresses identify the internet (cloud) server on which each website resides.
How Does DNS Work?
Let's follow a typical website request through its complete trip.
1
When you type a website name (URL) in your browser or click a website link, your browser immediately sends a request to your network. For our example, let's use gohere.com as our desired website.
2
Your
router is the link between your computer and the internet. It is configured to route your website request to a server. This is usually your
Internet Service Provider (ISP).
3
This server is called a DNS server.
DNS is Domain Name Services, responsible for managing every domain across the entire internet.
A domain name is the unique name that is your company's internet address. It's the character part of the longer text (URL) you type in your search box or see in the address bar.
For example, https://www.yourcompanyname.com is the URL. The bold portion, yourcompanyname, is the domain name.
4
Your ISP routes the request again. This time to the root DNS name server for .com
domains. These are called
TLD (top-level domain) servers.
top-level domain is the part of the domain name that comes after the last . (dot) in the URL.
Remember, we've requested gohere.com for this example. The request would be sent to the
.com root DNS name server.
5
Your ISP chooses one of the name servers and sends the request for gohere.com to the server.
The DNS name server looks at the website name it received (gohere.com) and finds the unique
IP address for the website.
An IP (Internet Protocol) address is a unique identifier for each device on a computer network. This includes such things as servers, desktops, laptops, printers, and routers. Think of it like the address for your home.
For example, the IP address for gohere.com is 199.299.99.2.
6
If the IP address isn't found, then the server sends a message back to your ISP that the website you requested isn't found.
7
If an IP address is found, then the DNS name server routes your request for gohere.com to 199.299.99.2.
8
If the IP address is found, the website is displayed on your browser.
If the IP address isn't found, then a message such as "404 not found" or "website not found" is displayed on your browser.
The entire trip has been completed in a matter of milliseconds.
. . . . .
What Is a Domain?
A domain name is the unique name that is your company's internet address. It's the character part of the longer text (URL) you type in your search box or see in the address bar.
For example, https://www.
yourcompanyname.com is the URL. The bold portion is the domain name.
A top-level domain is the part of the domain name that comes after the last . (dot) in the URL. Remember, we've requested gohere.
com for this example. If the website were gothere.org, then the request would be sent to the .org root DNS name server.
What Is an IP Address?
An IP (Internet Protocol) address is a unique identifier for each device on a computer network. This includes such things as servers, desktops, laptops, printers, and routers.
Think of it as the address for your home.
Keep Learning
How Do You Get to a Website? (PDF)
The Essential Advanced Security Protection Bundle Company Leaders Value
DNS web content filtering
Proactive 24/7/365 SOC breach monitoring and support
Advanced endpoint security, the next generation anti-virus
