How to set up public DNS servers from Yandex, Google and other services. What is DNS

A DNS server, or, as it is also called, a name server, is a set of servers and software that respond to DNS queries in accordance with an established protocol. If we speak in a language understandable to the common man, he is responsible for converting a domain name that is understandable to the user into an IP address that is understandable to the machine. A clear example of such a transformation looks like this:
Yandex.ru → 5.255.255.55

In the example, “Yandex.ru” is the second-level domain name that the user enters in the search bar. A request with this name is sent to the DNS server, which converts it to the IP address “5.255.255.55”, where the requested page is located. If for some reason the DNS server is unavailable, the download will not be able to occur, since the domain name will remain a set of characters.

A lot depends on choosing the right DNS server location:

• Resistance to DDoS attacks.
• Availability at any time.
• Extended functionality available. (additional records management)

Before choosing a DNS server, you need to carefully study the features of each type of name server and select the most suitable one according to the parameters.

By ordering a dedicated server service in St. Petersburg, you can be sure of the reliability of DNS hosting and 100% efficiency of protection against DDoS attacks.

Which DNS servers are better?

There are several options for placing DNS servers:

• Own DNS server.
• DNS servers provided by hosting providers.
• Paid DNS hosting.
• Free DNS hosting.

A CDN server can also operate in DNS mode; what it is and how it works is worth considering in more detail. Content Delivery Network (CDN) literally translates as “content delivery network” and, in fact, that’s what it is. A CDN consists of many servers physically located in different parts of the world and equipped with special software. The purpose of this network is to deliver the content requested by the user as quickly as possible.

By setting up a CDN proxy in DNS server mode, you can get a significant increase in the speed of the resource thanks to data caching over a distributed network of servers (information will be transmitted to the client from the server closest to it). In addition, the CDN can filter requests to protect the resource from DDoS attacks.

There are also significant disadvantages to using a CDN proxy. For domains located in a CDN, the IP address is assigned randomly, so you cannot access the site directly through the IP address. Another significant disadvantage of using a CDN on the territory of the Russian Federation is the danger of dedicated IPs getting blacklisted by Roskomnadzor. Since IP addresses are assigned randomly, there is a chance that one of the addresses blocked by Roskomnadzo will come across.

Each type of hosting has its pros and cons, which you need to know in order to understand which DNS servers are better.

Own DNS server

This option for hosting a DNS server is suitable for owners of their own server space and owners of virtual servers.

Most often, special DNS server software (for example, BIND or PowerDNS) is installed on the same server where the site is located and does not require additional financial costs.

The undeniable advantage of this DNS server location option is its independence from third-party resources. Very often, when the hosting on which the site is located is working stably, instead of accessing it, users receive the error “DNS service is not responding.” It can occur for several reasons, and the problem can be on both the server side and the client side. Owners of their own DNS servers can promptly detect and correct errors that occur, maintaining the continuous operation of the site. This requires constant monitoring of the server status.

Since the installation of server software and its administration falls entirely on the shoulders of the resource owner, difficulties may arise in setting up DNS. On the other hand, with sufficient qualifications, you can use your own scripts, which significantly expands the range of server capabilities. You can find many example configurations and tutorials on how to create them online.

However, it is not recommended to install DNS on the same server where the site is located. For high fault tolerance, a DNS system must consist of, at a minimum, distributed servers. Otherwise, if your server is unavailable, the site may stop working while the DNS cache is updated (from 1 to 72 hours). That is, even a short-term server reboot can lead to your site being unavailable for a long time.

DNS servers provided by hosting providers

Often, providers provide free name servers (primary or secondary) when purchasing server space. Thus, the minimum services required to host a working resource on the server are provided. Using free DNS hosting, the client has minimal access to its settings. Most often, such servers perform only basic functions (converting domain names to IP) without the ability to use additional functionality (API, IPv6, DynDNS or Geo Routing).

Hosting providers often have a free DNS server shared by all clients. Therefore, in the event of a DDoS attack on one of their clients, problems arise for all. On the other hand, hosting providers try to prevent such situations from occurring by protecting their DNS servers from DDoS.

There is no need to constantly monitor the state of the DNS server when choosing this option for its placement - this is constantly monitored by the hosting provider. Many people are interested in the answer to the question of how to find out the IP address of the provider’s DNS server. The easiest way is to contact the provider's support service. They will not only expertly answer all your questions, but will also help you deploy and configure your own name server.

RigWEB company provides all clients using hosting services, VPS rental or dedicated servers with DDoS-protected DNS hosting for an unlimited number of websites. You get full DNS management functionality, creating the necessary records, etc.

Paid DNS hosting

First you need to decide what DNS hosting is and why it is needed. To increase the stability of the resource, it is recommended to use at least two NS servers located on different networks. Otherwise, the following situation may arise: in the event of a temporary unavailability of the service, users accessing the site will “cache” for some time (about 10-15) a negative response from the name server (the DNS service does not respond). And even if the server is restored, the user will not be able to instantly access it without first clearing the cache. This is unacceptable for resources where real-time operation is important.

Organizations providing paid DNS hosting services place their servers on different networks, and often even in different countries. This ensures high fault tolerance of the system and reduces its response time to user requests. If one of the servers is unavailable for one reason or another, information is taken from the nearest available one.

The paid DNS hosting service is an excellent option for those who need a full-fledged API, a guarantee of system fault tolerance and the ability to use additional functionality.

Free DNS hosting

There are a number of resources that provide DNS server addresses for free. Among them are Yandex, Google and other search engines, as well as specialized services. There are several advantages to using such services:

• They are free.
• You can choose the option that best suits the range of services provided.
• There is no need to monitor server availability yourself.

Free DNS servers are usually subject to a number of restrictions. Among them is a limitation on the number of available domain names, or a limited number of requests served by the server. In addition, many free DNS servers do not serve commercial projects and, in their terms of use, do not assume responsibility for interruptions in operation.

What to do if the DNS service is not responding

For those who use free DNS servers for a domain, it is advisable to have several options for such servers, since it is almost impossible to influence their performance. It is necessary to leave a request to the support service, but until the functionality of the main DNS server is restored, you should switch to using one of the backup servers. Thus, the time of resource unavailability is reduced to a minimum.

If a resource is unavailable when using your own servers, you will have to figure out what it is - the DNS server is not responding or there is a problem with hosting availability. If the DNS service fails, restarting the software may help.

Much depends on the correct choice and configuration of the DNS server - fault tolerance, stability, protection from DDoS attacks. In case of any difficulties or questions, contact RigWEB specialists, and your clients will never receive a message that there is no DNS server or the DNS service is not responding.

Many owners of home PCs, laptops and tablets use the Internet without completely understanding the principles of its functioning. We can get a much more stable connection than our provider usually provides us with by taking the time to study this issue. One of the ways to improve your network experience is to replace the default DNS address with an alternative one.

What is DNS and what is it for?

First, let's figure out what the meaning of the DNS letter combination is. The full name is Domain Name System, and translated into Russian it means “domain name service.” Every website on the Internet has its own domain name, we see it every day in the address bar of the browser. For example, for the famous social network Facebook it will look like this: https://www.facebook.com. In addition, each site has its own IP address in the form of a digital value, like this: 31.13.65.36.

The DNS server translates the site's domain name into an IP address

The function of DNS is to store data about addresses and domain names of websites. When a letter request for a site name is received, the DNS server returns a numeric value for the resource address.

How to find out which DNS is provided by your ISP

If you periodically have difficulties logging into the Internet, it is better to use setting a specific DNS address rather than automatic configuration. This connection works more stable. To do this, you need to find out the address of your provider. The easiest way is to call the operator of the organization that provides you with Internet service. If this is not possible, find out the DNS address using Windows tools. To do this you need to call the command line.

You must do the following:

1. Open the “Start” menu, then “All Programs”, on the “Accessories” tab, click “command line”.
   

   Go to the “Start Menu” and select “Command Prompt”

2. Alternative method: press the Win and R keys at the same time - in the tab that appears, type the command “cmd” and click “OK”

   On the Run tab, enter the command "cmd" and click "OK"

3. In the window that appears, enter the command “nslookup” and press “Enter”.

   In the Command Prompt, type "nslookup" and press "Enter"

4. This way you will get the provider's DNS address value.

   In the “Command Prompt” window, information about the IP address of your provider will appear

Alternative DNS servers on the Internet, review, pros and cons

Each ISP has its own DNS service, but sometimes it makes sense to connect to an alternative server. The reasons may be different:

• the provider is unable to ensure stable DNS operation;
• the user seeks to increase the level of protection of his computer;
• the PC owner wants to increase network speed;
• the desire to get rid of restrictions on access to information based on territorial location.

Let's look at the best options and try to choose the most suitable one.

Google Public DNS

The service was launched in December 2009 as an experimental service. It is currently the largest public DNS service in the world, processing an average of more than 70 billion queries per day. It uses the CDN (Content Distribution Network) information transfer method. Google Public DNS servers support the Internet Protocol IPv 6.

Video: a detailed and accessible description of installing an alternative DNS from Google

Its undeniable advantages are:

1. High speed - ensured by the use of the latest technical developments.
2. Reliability - achieved through the use of powerful servers and an extensive infrastructure.
3. Security - based on the use of proprietary software.

The only negative is related to the activities of the service - collecting data about users to make money from advertising. This is not a serious security breach, but it could potentially expose your personal information.

Open DNS

Open DNS is the largest, most reliable DNS service on the Internet. Has 12 global data centers. It uses Anycast routing technology, thanks to which it responds to DNS requests faster than other providers. Websites will load faster and you won't have to worry about DNS glitches depending on your ISP. More than 50 customizable filtering categories allow parents to control the sites their children visit. Open DNS blocks sites that try to steal your sensitive information and passwords by pretending they are legitimate sites.

Video: how to set up Open DNS on your home computer

Its advantages:

1. Quick response to requests thanks to the use of new technologies and an extensive network of servers.
2. High degree of reliability achieved through the use of the latest equipment.
3. The ability to stop an Internet attack before it happens - the service filters traffic, it has its own database of malicious sites.
4. Basic features are provided free of charge.
5. Setup takes literally minutes.

The disadvantage is the need to register on the service.

DNS WATCH

If you need complete privacy, DNS WATCH is for you. It does not require registration and provides additional protection. No one can tell you which websites you shouldn't visit. By using DNS WATCH services, you no longer have to rely on your ISP when searching the Internet. You can rest assured that no DNS queries are censored. The service does not register Internet requests; you always remain an anonymous user. There is only one drawback - low speed.

Page of the DNS WATCH service providing DNS services

Norton Connect Safe

Norton ConnectSafe will protect your computer from malicious and unwanted Internet resources. Does not require installation of additional hardware and software. It is enough to enter the IP addresses of the DNS service. Is free for non-commercial use.

Video: installing protection for incoming Internet traffic, setting up Norton ConnectSafe

Helps secure your web browsing:

1. Being a product of Norton, which specializes in Internet security software, it will put a reliable barrier in the way of malicious, fraudulent sites.
2. Blocks sites with sexually explicit materials.
3. Makes it possible to limit children's viewing of sites with questionable content.

The service is not a full replacement for an antivirus program installed on the user’s computer. Norton ConnectSafe is your first layer of protection.

Level 3 DNS

The service ranks third in popularity. In addition to DNS services, it offers a large number of other products. Constantly develops new services designed to help business. A leading DNS service provider with a flexible and reliable server network that quickly responds to customer needs. Uses a combination of public and private connectivity via fiber or cloud. They are combined with Layer 3 security solutions and include essential applications, services and DNS functionality. Level 3 DNS allows you to create an ideal hybrid Layer 3 network environment.

Description of the capabilities of the Level 3 DNS service

It is necessary to take into account the fact that the service registers all requests coming from your computer.

Comodo Secure DNS

Comodo Secure DNS is a domain name resolution service that processes DNS requests through its network of redundant DNS servers. It will provide a much more reliable connection than your ISP's servers. If you choose to use Comodo Secure DNS, your PC's network settings will be changed so that all applications that access the Internet will use Comodo Secure DNS servers.

Description of the features available to Comodo Secure DNS users

Comodo Secure DNS gives you a safer, smarter and faster internet. He uses:

• reliable server infrastructure;
• highly structured DNS system and Comodo man pages;
• domain name filtering functions;
• Secure DNS refers to a list of blocking dangerous sites.

Most additional features are available for a fee.

Open NIC DNS

A non-profit project, it does not charge fees for access to DNS services. Entirely run by volunteers, and free for users. No government can prevent you from visiting your favorite sites. Once you start using OpenNIC DNS servers provided by volunteers, you can be sure that your connection will not be censored. The service has a huge network infrastructure, you can connect to the server located closest to you. You just need to select it from the list.

Description of the goals and policies of the Open NIC DNS service

DNS Settings

After reviewing the capabilities of the services that provide their servers, choose the most suitable one in your opinion. To configure an alternative DNS, use the table with IP addresses.

Table: IP addresses of alternative DNS servers

Having selected the appropriate service, you can begin changing the DNS settings:

1. Hover your mouse over the “Network” icon and left-click.

   The "Network" icon shows the presence of an Internet connection

2. In the “Current Connections” tab that appears, select “Network and Sharing Center” and click the left mouse button.

   Left-click on “Network and Sharing Center”

3. In the new window, select “Local Area Connection”.

   On the “View basic information about network status” tab, left-click on “Local Area Connection”

4. A new tab will appear, click “Properties”.

   On the tab that appears, click "Properties"

5. Select “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IP 4)” and click the “Properties” button again.

   Select “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IP 4)” and click “Properties”

6. In the new tab, in the “Use the following DNS server addresses” item, fill in: “Preferred DNS server” and “Alternative DNS server”.

   Fill in the “Preferred DNS server” and “Alternate DNS server” items, click “OK”

7. Check "Confirm settings on exit".
8. Click the “OK” button and restart the computer.

Common DNS errors and how to fix them

There are several common DNS errors that users periodically encounter:

1. The DNS server is not responding, the DNS server address cannot be found.
2. Windows can't contact the device or resource.
3. No access to DNS server.

If an error occurs, first of all you need to check whether the Internet cable has fallen out of the computer. If everything is fine, try connecting it directly, bypassing the router. If everything works without the router, try rebooting it. There are many varieties of these devices, but in general terms, the settings for all are almost the same. Let's look at how to do this using the example of one of the models of the famous TP-Link brand:

1. Enter 192.168.0.1 into your browser's address bar and click search.

   Enter the IP address of the router into the address bar of your browser

2. In the window that appears, enter your login and password (by default “admin”, if the password has been changed you must remember it).

   Enter your username and password correctly

3. Click the "Login" button.
4. In the router control panel that appears, select “System Tools”.

   In the menu that opens, select “System Tools”

5. The following window will open, in it click “Reboot”.

   In the “System Tools” section, click “Restart”

6. In the next tab the message “Click this button to reboot the device” will appear, press the button, confirm the reboot, wait.

After rebooting the router, the error should disappear. Basic device failures happen quite often, do not rush to panic, any problem can be solved on your own.

Quite often, the cause of various DNS errors is problems with the servers of your Internet service provider. If you have already taken the steps listed above, but the error message does not disappear, call your provider, perhaps the reason lies in the incorrect operation of its DNS server.

If the provider’s equipment is working, the router is working properly, the network is accessible, and the browser continues to show an error, the following actions will help:

• Ask your friends and download the KVRT anti-virus utility onto a removable drive, scan your computer, remove malicious codes;
• set the DNS address as described in the previous part of the article;
• update your network card drivers.

How to determine a website's IP address by domain name

Sometimes situations arise in which it is necessary to find out the IP address of a site. There's nothing complicated about it. The simplest way is to install add-ons in the browser. Take the Mozilla Firefox browser as an example.

Your procedure:

1. Go to your browser settings and select “add-ons”.

   In the extension installation window, click the Add to Firefox button

A globe-shaped icon will appear in the search box in the top bar of your browser. To determine the IP address of the desired site, just open its page. Hover your mouse over the icon and left-click.

You will find out the site's IP address by clicking on the IP finder icon

Another way to set the site address is to use Windows tools:

Both methods are quite simple to implement, but in the second option, be careful - do not rush, enter the command and resource names correctly.

Comfort and convenience when using the Internet largely depends on you. With a minimum of effort, you will get rid of many problems and get the opportunity to reach a new, higher level of network surfing. It is very easy to avoid the shortcomings that are common among our providers' DNS servers. Switch to alternative DNCs.

When talking about securing your Internet connection or accessing blocked content in your geographic area, you've probably heard about DNS. Although all providers provide their own default DNS server, you can use an alternative one. The DNS service is used to determine the IP addresses of websites based on their domain. Everything is very simple - in fact, there are no letter addresses on the Internet like a website; all communications and messages between computers are carried out via IP address. To determine it by domain name, DNS servers are used, which store a huge table of correspondence between domain names and IP addresses.

Using an alternative DNS server provides several benefits:

• The closer you are to the DNS server, the faster name resolution will be.
• If your provider's DNS is not very reliable, an alternative DNS will improve stability.
• You will get rid of restrictions on access to content based on geographic location.

If these reasons, or at least one of them, interest you, it's time to set up a DNS server on your system. In this article we will talk about how to set up a DNS server in Linux, how to find out its speed, and also look at the best DNS servers. You can choose the best one depending on your needs.

Since our site is still about Linux, let’s look at how to set up Linux DNS servers. The DNS server settings in any Linux distribution are located in the /etc/resolv.conf file. The DNS server address is specified in the following format:

nameserver 192.168.137.1

Here 192.168.137.1 is the DNS server address. But the setting in this file will only work until you reboot, since this file is regenerated every time the system boots.

If you use NetworkManager, you can configure the DNS server there, in the connection properties. Open network connection settings, click in the context menu ANDchange for the desired connection, then on the IPv4 tab specify the desired DNS server:

Now the settings are saved even after a reboot.

You can test the speed of the DNS server using the utility nslookup. For example:

time nslookup www.google.com 208.67.222.222

Server: 208.67.222.222
Address: 208.67.222.222#53
Non-authoritative answer:
Name: www.google.com
Address: 173.194.113.209
Name: www.google.com
Address: 173.194.113.212
Name: www.google.com
Address: 173.194.113.210
Name: www.google.com
Address: 173.194.113.211
Name: www.google.com
Address: 173.194.113.208
real 0m0.073s
user 0m0.012s
sys 0m0.004s

The first parameter is the address of the site that we will measure, the second is the DNS server address. Team time measures execution time nslookup in milliseconds. Now let’s move directly to the list of “good DNS servers”.

Best DNS Servers

1. Google Public DNS

The first DNS server on our list is a server from Google - Google Public DNS. It has been operating since December 2009 and its goal is to make users' online experience faster, safer and more convenient. It is currently the largest government DNS entity in the world. To use Google Public DNS, you only need to use the DNS server IP address 8.8.8.8 or 8.8.4.4.

Switching to Google Public DNS improves security and optimizes speed because Google actually uses Anycast routing to find the nearest server. Additionally, it is resistant to DNS Cache attacks as well as DoS.

2.OpenDNS

If you're not just looking for a replacement for regular DNS, but an advanced version that gives you more control, try OpenDNS. According to the company, you will take another step towards security by implementing this service. There are two options for OpenDNS - home and corporate. The home version comes with parental controls, phishing protection, and improved speed. The enterprise version of OpenDNS has full functionality to protect the enterprise network. For home use, you can get OpenDNS for free. To configure Linux DNS servers, simply set the following DNS addresses: 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220. OpenDNS also supports Anycast.

3. DNS.WATCH

DNS.WATCH is a minimalistic DNS service that allows you to have fast internet access without censorship. Because this service is built on freedom principles, you can be sure that your request will reach its target and no redirects will be used. The server is fast and stable. If you live in a censored country, this will be a great solution. DNS service servers: 82.200.69.80 and 84.200.70.40.

4. Norton ConnectSafe

Norton ConnectSafe is another DNS service designed to enhance your Internet security. It should be noted that Norton has been involved in the security aspects of many devices for a long time. So you can be confident in the quality of Norton ConnectSafe. The service offers three different protection options: protection against malware, phishing and scams, protection against pornography and other threats. Each type uses different IP addresses. To protect your entire home network, simply configure your router.

5. Level3 DNS

Level3 DNS is a great DNS service if you are looking for a reliable DNS server with excellent performance. While Level3 isn't as big as Google, it has an impressive infrastructure. You can be sure that the speed will be at the highest level. DNS server IP addresses: 209.244.0.3, 209.244.0.4, 4.2.2.1, 4.2.2.2, 4.2.2.3 and 4.2.2.4.

6. Comodo Secure DNS

Comodo Secure DNS is another service that combines speed, reliability and security. Comodo uses a huge network that includes a large number of DNS servers. Speed ​​will be optimized by selecting a server based on your location. In addition, Comodo takes care of security by supplying a list of dangerous sites, and the DNS service will make sure that you do not visit any of them. Comodo Secure DNS IP addresses: 8.26.56.26 and 8.20.247.20.

7.OpenNIC DNS

Although OpenNIC DNS is last on the list, it is a great solution if you want free access to the Internet without government censorship. OpenNIC DNS has a very large network infrastructure and therefore will most likely find a DNS server that is close to your physical location. Just select the desired server from the list.

conclusions

As you can see, some of these servers provide regular DNS, bypassing ISP restrictions, while others have additional capabilities - protection against attacks, phishing and dangerous programs. All of them are the best DNS servers and you can choose one of them depending on your needs.

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.