DNS

• What is the purpose of the Domain Name System?
• How do I find the IP address of a Domain Name?
• What are the Root Name Servers?

• Query a DNS Server

• Which Port does the DNS Service Run From?
• Can I Telnet into a DNS Server?

• Additional Resources

The purpose of the DNS (Domain Name System) is to allow internet users to type in addresses in the form of easy to remember names and words, rather then forced to type in the servers actual IP address.

To find the IP address of a domain name, first begin by querying a root name server with the request. The root name server will respond that it does not know what the ip address is, but will send you a list of "authoritative" servers that you should try instead. Start the same query again with one of the authoritative servers listed. You may have to repeat this process several times.

In addition to the ip addresses below, you can access a root server by preceding the domain root-servers.net with the particular servers letter.

The Domain Name System service runs from port 53.

You can not telnet into a DNS server (via port 53) and issue raw commands. The DNS Server operates on binary commands, and is not text based.

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Root_nameserver
• http://www.root-servers.org/