7 Fundamental DNS terms explained in a simple way

In our article, we will see several DNS terms that will assist you in managing your domain name as effectively as possible. So, let’s begin.

Domain Name System

The Domain Name System (DNS) is a global system that connects domain names to IP addresses. It has a multi-level hierarchical structure that is decentralized. It is quite useful and beneficial to people. If DNS didn’t exist, we have to input and remember every IP address on the web pages if DNS didn’t exist, which would be difficult. So, with the Domain Name System, we can employ easy-to-remember domain names and the page will load. It’s really simple. 

More basic DNS terms you should know

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What is a DNS amplification attack?

What a scary combination! Just by reading “attack”, you can feel goosebumps. Then, when “amplification” is added, you can visualize an attack whose power could be increased to damage even more.

What is a DNS amplification attack?

The DNS amplification attack is the type of DDoS attack where a hacker spoofs its IP address and changes it to the target’s IP address, then performs a DNS query access to open, public recursive DNS servers to saturate the target (system) with DNS response traffic. The amplification comes from the answer, which may be many times bigger than the original request. 

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How does the DMARC record work?

The DMARC record explained.

The short acronym DMARC stands for Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance. It is a mechanism, which provides the email receivers and senders to define if a particular message is legitimately from the sender. And also, what action to follows if it isn’t. The DMARC record helps recognize more easily phishing, and spam messages received in the users’ mailbox. It also assists in keeping these emails away from there. 

Example of DMARC

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DNS troubleshooting – commands

You can troubleshoot different DNS problems using the built-in commands that you already have on your computer. No matter if you are a Windows, Linux, or macOS user, you have various commands included in your OS. Here are the 5 most popular DNS troubleshooting commands that you should know and how to use them.

Traceroute (Linux and macOS) / Tracert command (Windows)

Traceroute command on Linux and macOS or Tracert on Windows is a built-in software that you can use for DNS troubleshooting. With this one, you can understand better the route of the DNS queries. You will see each individual hop with their response time, hostname, and IP address, and you will see a complete picture of the route to the target.

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What is DNS zone transfer?

The DNS is a hierarchy structure that looks like a tree. It is divided into layers where the top is the Root than the TLD-level, followed by the domain and the subdomain. You can get the right to manage a particular part of the DNS that is related to the domain you have purchase. You can manage it through DNS master zones that you can create from the software you are using or through the control panel of your managed DNS provider. 

What is a DNS master zone? 

The DNS master zone file is a DNS database of DNS records for a part of the namespace. A zone file typically will have SOA record, NS records, AAAA, A, MX, TXT, and other DNS records for the domain or subdomain. The master zone will be saved on a master DNS server (also known as the Primary DNS server). 

What is it?

The DNS zone transfer is the process of copying the information from the Master DNS server to the Secondary server or servers. The copying can be done by pushing the update from the Master DNS server to the Secondary servers or by a pull from the Secondaries to obtain the new changes.

The DNS administrator can limit which Secondary DNS server can ask for DNS zone transfer by whitelisting their IP addresses. You don’t want everybody on the Internet to be able to get all of your DNS records because many might be internals and not for everyone’s eyes.

Transferring a DNS zone using Dig

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Authoritative DNS server vs Recursive DNS server

DNS infrastructure really makes Internet surfing an easy and pleasant experience. Have you ever thought about how connectivity for too many humans around the world is possible? DNS process is complex, and it repeats millions of times every day. Would you like to know some of the responsible actors for this scene to work efficiently? Let’s start with servers. Authoritative and recursive servers.

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What is GeoDNS, and how does it work?

In different contexts, time is a factor in evaluating efficiency. But perhaps the Internet is the ultimate expression of that. The process of requesting a website and waiting for it to be loaded takes milliseconds. But if something delays it a bit, three-second waiting can be a reason for clients to abandon your website.

Website owners constantly deal with the time factor. The fast resolution, high speed, up-time are permanently on their priority list. If that’s your case, too, GeoDNS can be the solution.

What is GeoDNS?

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NS record explained

Domain name system (DNS) is a fascinating world where different processes take place all the time. Meeting every DNS component involved and understanding how to get the best out of its functionality, how to combine it with others, etc., is a complex and interesting challenge. 

There is no pointless element. Actually, missing a small piece of data can produce failures on your DNS. 

Today is the NS record’s turn to be explained. 

How to check your NS record?

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