What Is Domain Name Servers: The Basics

Technically, domain names are not required for website access. This is because all websites may be visited with or without them by their associated IP address. What is IP address? What is an address? It is a 32-bit numerical identification indicating the machine on which a site is located. The only difficulty is that those numbers (which arrive in 4 bytes) are exceedingly difficult for a person to memorize. Therefore, domain names have been generated. A user may visit a website with a domain name by a word or phrase, which is much more convenient than downloading bytes.

For domain names to operate, domain name servers must be used (also known as DNS). These are special computers that keep data on domain names and IP addresses to which they refer. This is accomplished through a method called reverse mapping. What occurs when the domain name is input, the domain name server in a directory service will check its matching IP address. It will also match with other domain name providers to check whether they have IP address 'knowledge.' This method is characterized as a distributed database since no authoritative organization updates data on other domain name servers.

How can a computer be converted to a server for a domain name? It has DNS software to run. BIND is the most prevalent DNS software (which stands for Berkeley Internet Name Domain). This operates in a hierarchical way, together with other forms of DNS software. The start of the hierarchy contains the " character. It is termed the root of the system. Under the root there is a.com,.org,.net or.biz domain extension.

A domain name server also needs client computers to help it operate. These computers are called nameservers and resolution machines. Nameservers are responsible for finding the IP address of a domain name. On the other hand, the resolvers keep a list on the internet of all other nameservers. This list will assist you contact these nameservers if the IP address of a domain name is not recorded in the original domain name server.

Should a web hosting firm bother to invest in a domain name server? It depends on the size of your company. Smaller web hosting firms are generally not going to benefit much from such an investment. However, if an enterprise wants to reach the sort of status achieved by sites such as Godaddy.com, it could wish to consider paying the money. Companies can obtain domain name servers from companies selling ordinary servers.

Finally, the domain name server may be regarded the functional heart of the domain name. Without them, there would be no way to connect a domain name with an IP address which is really responsible for network machine identification. This does not imply that it is vital for a web hosting firm to invest in one, particularly when so many cheap domain naming services are available. 

But if you had a domain name server, you would be able to sell both web hosting and domain names to your clients.