Authoritative DNS server Archives - ClouDNS Blog https://www.cloudns.net/blog/tag/authoritative-dns-server/ Articles about DNS Hosting and Cloud Technologies Fri, 25 Oct 2024 05:56:32 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.2.6 SERVFAIL Explained: How It Affects Your Internet Experience https://www.cloudns.net/blog/servfail-explained-how-it-affects-your-internet-experience/ https://www.cloudns.net/blog/servfail-explained-how-it-affects-your-internet-experience/#respond Thu, 06 Jun 2024 08:02:23 +0000 https://www.cloudns.net/blog/?p=3108 Picture this: you’re browsing the web, enthusiastic about exploring new websites or accessing your favorite online services, when suddenly you’re confronted with an enigmatic message – SERVFAIL. It’s a frustrating roadblock that interrupts your online journey, leaving you disconnected. But fear not! In this blog post, we’re diving deep into the mysterious world of this …

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Picture this: you’re browsing the web, enthusiastic about exploring new websites or accessing your favorite online services, when suddenly you’re confronted with an enigmatic message – SERVFAIL. It’s a frustrating roadblock that interrupts your online journey, leaving you disconnected. But fear not! In this blog post, we’re diving deep into the mysterious world of this error. Get ready to unravel the secrets of the Domain Name System (DNS), discover the causes behind these mysterious errors, and learn how to overcome them. Say goodbye to the frustration of inaccessible websites and say hello to a smoother online journey!

What does SERVFAIL mean?

SERVFAIL is an error response in the Domain Name System (DNS) system that occurs when a DNS resolver fails to obtain a valid response from the Authoritative DNS server for a particular domain. When you enter a domain name (like www.example.com) into your web browser or any other network application, your device sends a DNS query to a DNS resolver. The resolver is responsible for finding the IP address associated with the domain name so that the application can connect to the correct server.

During this process, the resolver contacts the Authoritative DNS server responsible for the requested domain. The Authoritative server stores the DNS records containing the necessary information to translate the domain name into an IP address (IPv4 or IPv6). However, if the Authoritative server fails to provide a valid response within a specified time limit, the resolver returns a SERVFAIL error code instead. The short abbreviation stands for “Server Failure”.

In the next section, we will explore the common causes of SERVFAIL errors and provide potential solutions for effective troubleshooting.

What causes a SERVFAIL error?

Let’s take a closer look at the most popular reasons why a SERVFAIL error could appear during your online journey. The main causes are the following:

  • Misconfiguration: Incorrectly configured DNS records or name servers can lead to Server Failure errors. Errors in zone file syntax, missing or mismatched DNSSEC signatures, or improper delegation can all contribute to a misconfiguration that results in the failure of the server.
  • Network Connectivity Issues: Disruptions in network connectivity between the DNS resolver and the Authoritative server can trigger SERVFAIL errors. These disruptions may occur due to network outages, routing problems, or firewall restrictions.
  • DNSSEC Validation Failures: DNS Security Extensions (DNSSEC) provide a layer of security by digitally signing DNS records. However, if the DNSSEC signatures are invalid or missing, DNS resolvers may encounter Server Failure errors while attempting to validate the authenticity of the received data.
  • Temporary Server Overload: A sudden spike in DNS queries or a misconfigured DNS server can overload the system, leading to server collapse and following SERVFAIL responses.
  • Authoritative Server Issues: Such errors can occur when the Authoritative server responsible for a domain experiences technical difficulties or becomes unresponsive. Server maintenance, software bugs, or hardware failures can all contribute to such issues.

Consequences

SERVFAIL errors can negatively impact both website owners and end users:

  • Website Inaccessibility: When a Server Failure error occurs, users are unable to access the desired website or service. This can be highly frustrating, especially if the website is essential for completing a task or obtaining important information. The inability to access a website can lead to a loss of productivity, hindered communication, and a negative user experience.
  • Communication Disruptions: Email servers rely on DNS to resolve domain names and deliver emails. If a SERVFAIL error happens during the DNS lookup process, it can result in delayed email delivery or cause emails to bounce back. This can disrupt communication channels and delay timely information exchange between individuals and organizations.
  • Negative Impact on SEO: For website owners and businesses, SERVFAIL errors can also harm search engine optimization efforts. When search engine crawlers encounter Server Failure errors while indexing a website, it may negatively impact the website’s visibility in search results. Lower rankings and reduced organic traffic can directly impact a website’s reach and online presence.
  • Reputation Damage: Consistent SERVFAIL errors can damage a website’s reputation and erode user trust. If visitors repeatedly encounter website inaccessibility due to DNS issues, they may perceive the site as unreliable or poorly managed. This can lead to a loss of credibility and potentially drive users away to competitor websites.
  • Financial Loss: In cases where websites provide products or services that rely on online transactions, SERVFAIL errors can result in financial losses. If customers cannot access a website to make purchases or complete transactions due to persistent DNS errors, it directly impacts revenue generation and potential business growth.
  • Customer Dissatisfaction: SERVFAIL errors can leave a lasting negative impression on users. Frustrated by the inability to access a website or experiencing delays in communication, customers may become dissatisfied with the overall user experience. This dissatisfaction can lead to a loss of customer loyalty, impacting the long-term success of a business.

Addressing SERVFAIL errors promptly and effectively is crucial to mitigate the negative outcomes. By implementing robust DNS configurations and ensuring network stability, website owners can minimize these errors and provide a smoother online experience for their users.

Resolving SERVFAIL Errors

Resolving SERVFAIL errors requires a systematic approach to identifying and addressing the underlying issues. Here are some steps you can take to tackle SERVFAIL errors:

  • Verify Network Connectivity: Start by checking your internet connection and ensuring that it is stable. Unstable or intermittent network connectivity can contribute to SERVFAIL errors. Restart your router or contact your internet service provider (ISP) to resolve any network-related issues. Additionally, you can use tools like Ping or Traceroute to verify connectivity between your device and the DNS resolver. This helps identify any network disruptions or bottlenecks.
  • Review DNS Configuration: Check the DNS records and configurations for your domain. Ensure that the Authoritative DNS server has accurate and up-to-date records. Common issues include incorrect IP addresses, missing or misconfigured DNS records, or expired DNS cache. Make sure everything is up to date to eliminate potential causes of SERVFAIL errors.
  • Check Authoritative DNS Server: Verify the status and health of the Authoritative DNS server responsible for your domain. Ensure that the server is properly configured, adequately maintained, and not overloaded. Monitor server logs and performance metrics to identify any issues that may be causing Server Failure errors.
  • Resolve DNS Server Overload: If the Authoritative DNS server is experiencing high traffic volumes or Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks, it may become overloaded and result in SERVFAIL errors. Consider implementing different load balancing techniques or upgrading to Anycast DNS to distribute the DNS workload across multiple servers. That way, you can reduce the server’s load and enhance its resilience.
  • Implement DNSSEC: DNS Security Extensions (DNSSEC) provide an added layer of security to DNS by digitally signing DNS records. Implementing DNSSEC can help prevent DNS spoofing and potential Server Failure errors caused by malicious activities. Consult with your system administrator to enable DNSSEC for your domain.
  • Monitor and Troubleshoot: Constant monitoring of your DNS infrastructure is highly beneficial for detecting SERVFAIL errors. Use DNS monitoring to receive alerts and insights into the health and performance of your DNS system. If SERVFAIL errors still appear, take action through troubleshooting to identify underlying issues, such as misconfigured firewalls, network latency, or DNS resolver configuration errors.
  • Seek Expert Assistance: If you experience ongoing SERVFAIL errors or struggle to identify and resolve the root causes, consider consulting with DNS experts or system administrators. They can provide specialized knowledge and expertise to diagnose and address complex DNS issues.

Remember, resolving SERVFAIL errors requires patience, persistence, and a proactive approach to maintain a robust DNS infrastructure.

Tools for Diagnosing SERVFAIL Errors

When it comes to diagnosing SERVFAIL errors, several command-line tools can be extremely helpful. Below are some of the most commonly used commands:

  • Nslookup 

The Nslookup command helps you query DNS servers and obtain a domain name or IP address mapping. To use Nslookup for diagnosing SERVFAIL, you can type the following:

nslookup example.com

It will help you see if the DNS server is able to resolve the domain.

  • Dig

As a powerful DNS query tool, the Dig command provides detailed information about DNS responses. To diagnose SERVFAIL errors, you can use:

dig example.com

This command will give you insight into the DNS query and response, including potential reasons for the failure.

  • Traceroute 

The Traceroute command traces the path that your data takes to reach a destination. It can help identify where the communication is breaking down. To use Traceroute, you can write the following:

traceroute example.com

It will display each hop along the route to the domain, helping you identify where issues might be occurring.

If you prefer using online tools, ClouDNS offers a Free DNS tool and Nslookup tool that can be accessed directly from your web browser. These tools provide a user-friendly interface for performing DNS lookups and troubleshooting SERVFAIL errors without needing to run command-line commands.

Conclusion

In conclusion, understanding and resolving SERVFAIL errors is crucial for a seamless online experience. These errors can disrupt website accessibility, communication channels and have financial consequences. Website owners can mitigate the negative effects by addressing the root causes of these errors through network troubleshooting and DNS configuration inspections. Remember, a well-maintained DNS infrastructure can improve user satisfaction and safeguard businesses’ reputation and success in the digital landscape. 

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What is DNS? How does Domain Name System work? https://www.cloudns.net/blog/what-is-dns/ https://www.cloudns.net/blog/what-is-dns/#comments Thu, 30 May 2024 06:29:00 +0000 https://www.cloudns.net/blog/?p=122 Without Domain Name System (DNS), there is no Internet. It is the key ingredient that makes domain resolving possible. We use DNS to access sites, send and receive emails when we use applications. All-day, every day!  Domain Name System – DNS DNS or a Domain Name System is an amazing technology. You can see DNS as …

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Without Domain Name System (DNS), there is no Internet. It is the key ingredient that makes domain resolving possible. We use DNS to access sites, send and receive emails when we use applications. All-day, every day! 

Domain Name System – DNS

DNS or a Domain Name System is an amazing technology. You can see DNS as a hierarchy system of domains/hostnames and IP addresses. It helps us open internet addresses without a hustle. We easily write the domain name and the DNS has the job to find the IP of the domain we wrote. Just like the phone book on your mobile phone, you need to find Mike, so you write “Mike”, and you don’t need to remember his actual number, great isn’t it?

DNS is an essential part of the Internet. It manages to translate all the inquiries into IP addresses, and like this, it can identify different devices that are connected to the network.

Apart from translating hostnames to IP addresses (A and AAAA DNS records), DNS also has many different functions like defining port in use, connecting services to domains, authentication of emails, and many more. There are 50+ types of DNS records with different functionality.

Why do we need the Domain Name System (DNS), and why is it important?

The Domain Name System is a fundamental component of the Internet infrastructure, playing an essential role in ensuring the smooth operation of online services and communication. DNS serves for:

  • Matching hostnames to IP addresses: DNS allows users to access websites using memorable domain names instead of complex IP addresses, improving usability and accessibility.
  • Pointing services: It enables organizations to map domain names to specific services, such as web servers, email servers, FTP servers and more.
  • Directing messages to mail services: DNS also plays a crucial role in email delivery by mapping mail server addresses (MX records) to domain names. This ensures that emails are routed correctly to their intended recipients.
  • Authentication and validation of emails and different services: It supports various protocols, such as SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, which authenticate and validate email senders and prevent spam and phishing attacks.
  • Creating VPN: DNS can be used to set up Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) by resolving domain names to internal IP addresses and ensuring secure remote access to corporate resources.
  • Creating a Content Delivery Network: DNS powers Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) by routing requests to geographically distributed servers, optimizing content delivery and enhancing user experience.
  • Load balancing: DNS-based load balancing distributes traffic across multiple servers, improving scalability, resilience, and performance.
  • Increase your uptime: Effective DNS management strategies, such as redundant server setups and optimized configurations, contribute to increased uptime.

DNS history

Before the Internet, there were different networks like ARPANET, SATNET, and many packet radio ones. The problem was that there was not a single united network. There was a need to solve this problem, and the solution was the Domain Name System (DNS). 

The person who got the task to create it was Paul Mockapetris. His team needed to find a way to have IP addresses and hostnames aligned. 

A centralized file called HOSTS.TXT matched the first existing sites to IP addresses, but this was not a solution that could handle millions of sites.

After several years of work, in 1983, the DNS was created and joined the Internet Standards of Internet Engineering Task Force in 1986. The founding documents of it were RFC 1034 and the second RFC 1035. There you can find information about the protocol, its functionality, and data types. 

A later update of DNS allowed dynamic zone transfers (IXFR) and the use of NOTIFY. The NOTIFY mechanism gave the Primary DNS servers the power to “notify” the Secondary about the changes in the DNS records. 

Now the Secondary DNS servers could update when a change occurs in the Primary and get only the change.  

And another critical moment was the creation of the DNSSEC and its version from 1999 (RFC 2535). It is a security layer that defends the DNS from poison attacks. 

Here you can read more about the History of DNS.

Components of DNS. What does DNS include?

The Domain Name System has several essential components, each playing a crucial role in its operation:

  • Domain namespace. It is a tree-like hierarchy structure that divides hostnames into smaller pieces called domains. They are further divided into more categories: top-level domains, second-level domains, and subdomains. 
  • DNS servers. These servers handle the resolution of domain names to IP addresses. They include authoritative servers with the original DNS records, recursive servers that cache and resolve queries, root name servers that direct queries to TLD servers, and TLD servers that manage second-level domains.
  • DNS query. Each request comes from a device that demands a DNS record. It is a question that runs from one recursive server to another in search of the answer. 
  • DNS records. Domain name system keeps information in so-called DNS records. They are text documents with various purposes like A Record, SPF record, CNAME record, etc. 

DNS server types

DNS servers play different roles in the process of resolving domain names. Here are the primary types of DNS servers:

  • Recursive DNS servers: These servers handle queries from clients and perform the necessary lookups to resolve domain names into IP addresses. They can cache results to speed up future queries.
  • Root Name servers: Root servers are at the top of the DNS hierarchy. They respond to queries for records in the root zone and direct them to the appropriate Top-Level Domain (TLD) servers.
  • TLD Name servers: These servers manage the DNS records for domains under a specific top-level domain, such as .com, .org, or .net. They direct queries to the authoritative servers for the requested domain.
  • Authoritative DNS servers: These servers store the DNS records for a domain. They provide answers to queries about domains they are responsible for, delivering the most accurate information.

DNS server types

How does the Domain Name System work? Example:

Let’s explain a little bit more about how DNS actually works. The process has the following steps:

1. Information request
You want to visit our website and you know the domain name. You write it in your browser, and the first thing it does is to check for local cache if you have visited it before, if not it will do a DNS query to find the answer.

2. Recursive DNS servers
If you haven’t visited the page before, your computer will search the answer with your internet provider’s recursive DNS servers. They have cache too so you can get the result from there. If they don’t, they will need to search the information for you in another place.

3. Root name servers
Your query can travel a long way. The next step is the name servers. They are like intermediates; they don’t know the answer, but they know where to find it.

4. Top-Level Domain (TLD) name servers
The name servers will read from right to left and direct you to the Top Top-Level Domain (TLD) name servers for the extension (.com or another). These TLD servers will lead you finally to the servers which have the right information.

5. Authoritative DNS servers
These DNS servers check the DNS records for the information. There are different records, for example, we want to know the IP address for a website, so our request is Address Record (A).

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6. Retrieve the record
The recursive server gets the A record for the website we want from the authoritative name servers and stores it on its local cache. If somebody else needs the host record for the same site, the information will be already there, and it won’t need to pass through all these steps. All this data has an expiration date. This way, the users will get up to date information.

7. The final answer
Now that the recursive server has the A record it sends it to your computer. The PC will save the record, read the IP and pass the information to your browser. The browser makes the connection to the web server, and it is finally possible for you to see the website.

How does Domain Name System work?

Commonly used DNS records

The DNS records represent instructions and information about a specific domain name. A DNS query is initiated to find such information, and a different DNS record could be pursued depending on the user, query, or application.  

There are a lot of different DNS record types, and each of them serves a precise purpose. Here are some of the most commonly used DNS records:

  • SOA record – The SOA stands for Start Of Authority. It is one of the fundamental DNS records which describes the origin of the authoritative DNS zone. Additionally, it holds important details about the zone, including information about the primary name server, the domain administrator’s email address, the domain serial number, and details regarding zone transfers.
  • A record – The A simply means address. This record contains the IP address of a domain. It is important to mention that A records are responsible for IPv4 addresses. In case you need a record for your IPv6 address, then you should use the AAAA record instead. In most cases, websites have a single A record. However, some sites are more significant and hold more than one. That is very beneficial for load balancing and handling heavy traffic.
  • NS record – This is another fundamental DNS record that indicates which is the responsible authoritative server for keeping all related data for a particular domain. There are cases when domains have primary and secondary (backup) name servers for better reliability, then multiple NS records are required for directing DNS queries to them.
  • CNAME record – A Canonical Name record is a very helpful type of DNS record that points one hostname to another hostname. It is typically utilized to direct a subdomain, like www, or mail to the domain. Yet, you should be careful because it can’t coexist with other DNS records.
  • TXT record – This record allows the DNS administrator to include text instructions related to their domain name. TXT records are commonly used for verifying domain ownership, securing your emails, and protecting against email spam.
  • SPF record – The Sender Policy Framework record is a TXT DNS record type that specifies which servers have permission to send emails on your domain’s behalf. It is crucial if you want to stop criminals from spoofing your domain.

How does the Domain Name System affects the web performance?

Recursive DNS servers are able to store the DNS data (like A records and IP addresses) received from DNS queries in their DNS cache for a limited amount of time. That way, the servers are capable of providing quick replies if requests for the same IP address appear. For that reason, caching DNS information is very efficient.

When multiple users request to access the same website, the local DNS server would have to complete the entire DNS resolution process just once. Afterward, it will answer the rest of the requests with the information in its DNS cache.

As we mentioned, the DNS data is available only for a specific amount of time, determined by the TTL (Time-To-Live) value. Administrators have the responsibility to set it, and it could be different depending on their preferences. Longer TTL helps decrease the load on the Authoritative DNS servers. On the other hand, shorter TTL will guarantee more accurate answers.

Suggested article: What web performance monitoring is?

DNS server not responding? How to fix it?

When you encounter the message “DNS Server Not Responding,” it means your device is unable to contact the DNS server to resolve the domain name you are trying to access. This issue can arise from various causes:

  • Network Connectivity Issues: There might be problems with your internet connection or the network you are using.
  • DNS Server Problems: The DNS server you are trying to reach may be down or experiencing high traffic, making it unresponsive.
  • Incorrect DNS Settings: Your device’s DNS settings might be configured incorrectly, preventing it from communicating with the DNS server.
  • Firewall or Security Software: Sometimes, firewall or security software on your device can block DNS traffic.

To resolve this issue, try these troubleshooting steps: switch to a different browser or device to see if the problem persists, check your network connection and restart your router, temporarily disable your antivirus software and firewall, and ensure no conflicting secondary connections or peer-to-peer features are active. Additionally, update your network adapter drivers, flush your DNS cache using Command Prompt, and consider changing your DNS server settings to a reliable service. Disabling IPv6 in your network settings may also help.

DNS SECURITY

Over time, cybercriminals found vulnerabilities in the Domain Name System (DNS) and managed to use them to their own advantage. The most common threat is called DNS spoofing (DNS poisoning), where falsified data is distributed to the Recursive DNS servers. Usually, the false information directs user requests to a source pretending to be the Authoritative DNS server. So, as a result, the requests are typically directed to a fake website. 

Criminals use tricky titles and aim to convince users that the website is genuine, so they can gain access to the user’s personal details. Sometimes, for instance, they substitute a character in the domain name with a similar-looking character, like replacing the letter l with the number 1. If the user doesn’t notice the difference, the risk of becoming a victim of a phishing attack is relatively high.

The best option for boosting your DNS security and minimizing the risk of becoming a victim of DNS spoofing (DNS poisoning) is to implement DNSSEC (DNS Security Extensions). With it, the DNS data (DNS records) is signed cryptographically. That way, its integrity and authenticity are guaranteed. Other security measures for mitigating such threats are DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH) and DNS-over-TLS (DoT), which encrypt DNS queries and responses, protecting them from eavesdropping and tampering.

Conclusion

The Domain Name System is a fundamental pillar of the Internet, enabling seamless access to websites and services by translating human-readable domain names into IP addresses. It is a long process, but actually, it takes fractions of a second. It can be even faster if you use reliable DNS servers from ClouDNS. Check our DNS services and choose the one that best suits you. With continuous advancements and robust security measures like DNSSEC, DNS remains a reliable and secure backbone of the Internet. For businesses and individuals alike, understanding and optimizing DNS can lead to improved web performance, enhanced security, and a better overall user experience.

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What is Authoritative DNS server? https://www.cloudns.net/blog/authoritative-dns-server/ https://www.cloudns.net/blog/authoritative-dns-server/#respond Wed, 03 Apr 2024 08:41:12 +0000 https://www.cloudns.net/blog/?p=348 The authoritative DNS server is the final holder of the IP of the domain you are looking for. When you write a domain name in your browser, a DNS query is sent to your internet service provider (ISP). The ISP has a recursive server, which might have the needed information cached in its memory. But …

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The authoritative DNS server is the final holder of the IP of the domain you are looking for. When you write a domain name in your browser, a DNS query is sent to your internet service provider (ISP). The ISP has a recursive server, which might have the needed information cached in its memory. But if the data is outdated, this recursive server needs to find the IP elsewhere. It will try to find it in other recursive servers, but if it can’t, it needs to get the IP address from an authoritative DNS server.

Authoritative DNS server

Such a server is the name server, which has the original zone records. It has been configured from the original source, and it returns answers to queries that have been predetermined by the administrator.
These DNS servers are giving responses to queries just for the zones they are configured. This makes them very efficient and fast. They will not respond to recursive queries too. The requests that reach them are from Resolving name servers (resolvers) and the authoritative servers will either have the complete answer or they will pass to the name server who is responsible for it.


The authoritative servers don’t cache query results. They have data that is saved in their system.
It can be master or slave. It can store the original zone records, or a secondary server which communicates directly with the primary and copies the records directly through a DNS mechanism.

The authoritative DNS servers can be where the website is hosted or where the DNS provider is.

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Types of Authoritative name servers

An Authoritative server provides definitive answers to DNS queries, such as mail server IP address or web site IP address (A resource record). It does not simply return cached responses from another name server, but rather provides answers to queries about domain names that are configured in its system. We distinguish two types of Authoritative DNS servers: Primary name servers and Secondary name servers.

  • A Primary name server (also known as a Master server) stores the authoritative copies of all zone records. The DNS administrator is responsible for making changes to Master server zone records. All Slave Servers receive updates via the DNS protocol’s special automatic updating mechanism and maintain an identical copy of the Master records.
  • A Secondary name server (also known as a Slave server) is an exact replica of a Master server. We use it to distribute the load on the DNS server and to increase the availability of a DNS zone in the event of a failure (DNS outage, DNS attacks, etc) of the Primary server. Furthermore, it is advisable for a domain to have at least two Slave servers and one Master server.

Authoritative DNS server vs. Recursive DNS server 

Both Authoritative DNS servers and Recursive DNS servers have crucial functions, and they depend on each other to fulfill their purposes. However, there are some fundamental differences between them. 

Authoritative DNS servers store the most recent and accurate information (DNS records) for a domain and are able to provide the final answers for users’ DNS queries (DNS lookups). On the other hand, Recursive DNS servers only keep a copy of the DNS information for a particular amount of time, also known as Time to live (TTL). Additionally, they often have to obtain the answer for a DNS query from another server. 

So let’s explain a little bit more about the differences between them!

Аuthoritative DNS server

An Аuthoritative DNS server is responsible for answering DNS queries for a particular set of DNS zones by providing information from its own data. It does not have the need to reference another source. Most commonly, it replies to the requests with one of the following types of answers:

  • Authoritative DNS information (DNS records) from its own store. It could come from a master zone file, from a secondary zone duplicate transferred from a master server, from Dynamic DNS, etc.
  • In case it doesn’t know the answer, it is going to direct to another nameserver. For instance, the Root name server points to the responsible TLD (Top-Level Domain) server.
  • An authoritative NXDOMAIN. It replies that the requested domain name doesn’t exist.
  • An authoritative empty NOERROR (NODATA) answer. The requested domain name exists, but the particular queried DNS record does not.

Recursive DNS server

The Recursive DNS server replies to DNS queries by asking other nameservers for the needed information (DNS records). In some cases, this server responds to DNS requests directly from its cache if the information is available there. In case it is not, the Recursive DNS server, also known as DNS resolver, is going to perform a search and ask the responsible authoritative servers until it finds the needed answer.

Normally, Recursive DNS servers store in their cache memory information about previously queried domain names for further use. That really reduces the network traffic and improves the performance. 

Recursive DNS servers normally answer DNS queries in the following way:

  • Authoritative DNS information (DNS records) from its own store, if there is any. That could be a positive response, NXDOMAIN, or NOERROR/NODATA.
  • Non-authoritative DNS information that is received and cached from a previous recursive DNS query, if there is any.
  • Data retrieved from remote authoritative name servers. It can be further cached and reused for answering future DNS queries.

Recursive DNS servers are most commonly used to reply to general DNS queries for users on a local network.

How to get Authoritative DNS server for a domain?

It is actually very easy to get the Authoritative DNS server for a domain name. Here we are going to show you how by using popular tools such as Dig, NSlookup, Host, and WHOIS. 

  • Dig command

We are going to use the Dig command and request the NS records, where NS stands for nameserver. Therefore, this DNS record is going to show us which are the authoritative DNS servers for the particular domain name or DNS zone.

Type the following:

$ dig +short NS exampledomain.com

  • NSlookup command

NSlookup is another popular tool that can help you get the Authoritative DNS server for a domain name or a DNS zone. It works on Windows, Linux, and macOS. Once again, we are going to query the NS records.

Simply type the following:

$ nslookup -type=NS exampledomain.com

  • Host command

Host command is a beneficial tool that you can use on your Linux or macOS device. For our purpose, to get a list of the Authoritative DNS servers, we should request the NS record. 

Just write the following:

$ host -t NS exampledomain.com

  • WHOIS 

With the WHOIS command, you can get a list of the Authoritative DNS servers too. 

Write the following:

$ whois exampledomain.com | grep -i “Name .*:”

*Make sure to replace “exampledomain.com” with the one you want to check.

Importance of Authoritative DNS Servers

Authoritative DNS servers are critical for several reasons:

  • Resolution: Authoritative DNS servers translate domain names into IP addresses, enabling users to access websites and services.
  • Accuracy and Reliability: They maintain up-to-date records, ensuring users receive correct IP addresses for requested domains.
  • Performance: By distributing authoritative DNS servers globally, organizations can reduce latency and improve the performance of DNS resolution.
  • Security: Properly configured authoritative DNS servers play a crucial role in mitigating DNS-related attacks, such as DNS spoofing and DDoS attacks.
  • Domain Management: They give administrators the possibility to modify DNS records and make the needed adjustments to effectively direct traffic.

Best Practices 

For optimal performance and security, it is best for organizations to stick with the best practices when managing authoritative DNS servers:

  • Redundancy: Deploy redundant authoritative DNS servers across multiple geographic locations to improve fault tolerance and minimize downtime.
  • Security Measures: Implement security measures such as DNSSEC (Domain Name System Security Extensions) to protect against DNS-related threats.
  • Regular Monitoring: Monitor authoritative DNS servers regularly for performance issues, unauthorized changes, and potential security breaches.
  • Capacity Planning: Predict future growth and ensure that servers can handle increased DNS query loads without degradation in performance.

Conclusion

So now you are familiar with what the Authoritative DNS server actually is and its crucial purpose! Its ability to provide authoritative answers to the DNS requests (DNS queries) is one of the key fundamentals of the entire DNS (Domain Name System) and the Internet as well! 

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