What is Knot DNS?

Knot DNS is an open-source DNS server software developed by the CZ.NIC association. It is designed to provide fast and reliable DNS resolution services for both authoritative and recursive DNS queries. Knot DNS is known for its efficiency and security features, making it a popular choice for organizations and network administrators.

Knot DNS is part of the broader Knot project, which includes various DNS-related tools and libraries, all aimed at improving the Internet’s DNS infrastructure. Knot DNS itself is specifically focused on serving DNS requests and resolving domain names efficiently and reliably.

The DNS server software includes great features like support for modern DNS standards, such as DNSSEC (Domain Name System Security Extensions), to enhance the security of DNS queries and responses. It also offers a flexible and modular architecture, allowing users to customize and extend its functionality as needed. Another notable aspect is its focus on minimizing memory usage and maximizing performance, making it suitable for resource-limited environments. Overall, it is a robust and lightweight DNS server solution.

Brief History

The story of Knot DNS began in the early 2010s when a group of visionary developers aimed to create a robust and efficient open-source DNS server.

Knot DNS, initiated by the Czech CZ.NIC association quickly gained popularity within the global DNS community. Over the years, it has become a trusted choice for organizations and network administrators worldwide. Its development has been characterized by a commitment to constant improvement, resulting in a server that boasts exceptional efficiency and scalability, making it ideal for both small networks and large-scale infrastructures. Additionally, it is a flexible and versatile solution that makes it suitable for diverse applications, from authoritative name servers to recursive resolvers.

Today, Knot DNS is not just a part of history but a vital component of the Internet’s present and future, providing websites and networks with fast and secure domain resolution.

Key Features of Knot DNS

Knot DNS offers several advantages and key features that make it a compelling choice for DNS server deployments:

• Speed and Performance: The DNS server software can provide top-notch performance. It offers a highly optimized codebase, making it one of the fastest DNS servers available. Users get fast domain resolution and an overall improved online experience.
• Security First: Security is a top priority in today’s world. Knot DNS is prepared with advanced security features, including DNSSEC support, ensuring that your DNS infrastructure remains safe against threats and vulnerabilities.
• Modular Design: It allows you to customize it to fit your specific needs. Thanks to the modular architecture, adding additional features and functionalities is easy. It adapts seamlessly to your evolving requirements.
• Scalability: Whether you’re managing a small network or an enterprise infrastructure, this DNS server solution scales effortlessly. It can handle the demands of high-traffic websites and complex DNS configurations without breaking a sweat.
• Open Source: The DNS server software is open-source, which means it’s constantly improved and supported by a vibrant community of developers. Plus, it’s cost-effective, helping you save on licensing fees.
• DNS over TLS (DoT) and DNS over HTTPS (DoH) Support: It supports encrypted DNS communication, enhancing privacy and security for users. DoT and DoH are protocols that encrypt DNS queries and responses, preventing DNS manipulation.
• Zone Editing and Management: A set of tools for easy zone configuration and management is available. It is a user-friendly choice for administrators responsible for maintaining DNS records.
• Zone transfers: It supports secure and efficient zone transfers, which are crucial for duplicating DNS data between authoritative servers. This feature is especially valuable for organizations that manage their DNS infrastructure and need to ensure data consistency across multiple servers.

How Does It Work?

Understanding how Knot DNS operates requires a basic knowledge of DNS (Domain Name System) and the concepts behind it. At its core, DNS is a decentralized database that holds all available domain names and their corresponding IP addresses (IPv4 and IPv6). Knot DNS can serve in two primary roles:

• Authoritative DNS Server

The Authoritative DNS server is responsible for storing DNS information about a specific domain name and for providing authoritative answers to DNS queries. When a client, such as a web browser, requests the IP address associated with a domain name, it contacts the Authoritative DNS server responsible for that domain.

Knot DNS allows network administrators to configure authoritative zones efficiently. It supports various DNS standards, including DNSSEC (DNS Security Extensions), which adds a layer of security to the DNS infrastructure by ensuring the integrity and authenticity of DNS data.

• Recursive DNS Server

A Recursive DNS server (DNS Resolver) stores recently resolved DNS queries in its memory to speed up following requests. When a client queries a domain name, the Recursive DNS server first checks its DNS cache. If it finds the information there, it can provide the answer immediately without having to perform a full DNS query.

Knot DNS is great as a Recursive DNS server due to its optimized design and performance. It helps reduce DNS query response times, improving the overall user experience when accessing websites and online services.

Getting Started with Knot DNS

Getting started with the Knot DNS server is a very easy process. First, you should visit the official Knot Project website. You’ll find complete documentation, installation guides, and resources for your specific needs.

Whether you plan to use it as an Authoritative DNS server, a Recursive DNS server, or both, the website offers step-by-step instructions to help you get up and running. 

You’ll also find information on configuring and customizing Knot DNS to suit your network requirements. With its user-friendly resources and active community support, starting your journey with this DNS server software is both easy and enjoyable.

Best Practices for Knot DNS

In order to get the most out of Knot DNS, consider these best practices:

• Optimizing Performance: Effectively configure caching by adjusting cache size and TTL (Time to Live) values to improve response times. Load balancing across multiple Knot DNS servers can distribute traffic efficiently and reduce latency.
• Boost Security: Implement mechanisms like DNSSEC to protect against data tampering and DNS spoofing. Secure your server by limiting access to trusted IPs, using secure zone transfers, and enabling DNS over TLS (DoT) or DNS over HTTPS (DoH) for encrypted queries.
• Efficient Zone Management: Organize zone files clearly and automate updates. Additionally, using version control for your DNS configurations will help easy tracking of changes and revert if needed.
• Monitoring and Maintenance: Regularly monitor server performance and query logs to identify and address issues proactively. Advanced tools can help automate this process, ensuring your DNS server remains robust and responsive.
• Troubleshooting Common Issues: If you encounter slow query responses or DNSSEC errors, check your configurations for misalignments or expired keys. Regularly test your setup to ensure everything is functioning correctly.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Knot DNS stands as a powerful and reliable open-source DNS server solution. Developed by the CZ.NIC association, it offers exceptional speed, top-tier security with DNSSEC support, and a modular design that adapts to your specific needs. Its scalability makes it suitable for networks of all sizes, and being open-source ensures constant improvement and cost-effectiveness. With user-friendly zone management tools, Knot DNS is ideal for a secure and efficient DNS infrastructure.

The post Knot DNS Server Explained: Understanding the Basics appeared first on ClouDNS Blog.

Cybercriminals are using malicious domain names and DNS servers to bypass the protection and complete data exfiltration.

Before we jump into explaining what the DNS tunneling attack is and how it works, let’s talk a little bit more about what DNS is.

Domain Name System – explained

The Domain Name System, or just for short DNS, is a global naming database. Thanks to it, we are able to use the Internet, as we do in the present day. Its purpose is to translate human-readable domain names, such as example.net, into their corresponding machine-friendly IP addresses, such as 123.45.67.89. That way, regular users are not required to remember long and difficult numbers. Instead, people are easily memorizing domain names, and they can use them to reach and explore their favorite news, sports, or another website.

A lot of services rely on the large number of DNS translation queries that appear constantly. For that reason, DNS traffic is widely used and trusted. Due to the fact that DNS was not invented to transfer data packets but only for name resolution was not viewed as a threat to malicious communications and data exfiltration. Yet, DNS is not just a translation instrument for domain names. DNS queries can also transfer tiny portions of data between two devices, systems, and servers. The bad news is that this makes DNS a potential vector for attacks.

Unfortunately, the majority of organizations do not analyze the DNS packets for malicious activity frequently. Instead, they mainly concentrate on analyzing web or email traffic where they consider a possible attack could appear. The truth is that each endpoint should be under detailed monitoring for preventing DNS tunneling attacks.

DNS Tunneling – what do you have to know?

DNS Tunneling attack is a very popular cyber threat because it is very difficult to detect. It is used to route the DNS requests to a server controlled by the attacker and provides them with a covert command and control channel and data exfiltration path.

Typically, DNS tunneling involves data payloads that are added to the target DNS server. Additionally, they are implemented for gaining control of a remote server and applications. Moreover, for the purpose of this attack, the compromised system should be connected to an external network to achieve access to an internal DNS server with network access. Cybercriminals control a server that operates as an authoritative server and a domain name to complete the server-side tunneling and data payload executable programs.

5 DNS Attacks Types that could affect you

DNS Tunneling History

DNS tunneling history is highly related to the evolution of cybersecurity threats. It appeared as a technique for bypassing network restrictions and avoiding detection. At first, it was used for legitimate purposes like bypassing restrictive networks or anonymous online activity. However, DNS tunneling slowly became popular among malicious actors as a secret communication channel for data exfiltration and command-and-control purposes. The first examples of this attack appeared in the early 2000s and were often associated with malware propagation. Over the years, the attackers become more sophisticated, and their techniques have evolved. That forced cybersecurity specialists to develop advanced monitoring and prevention mechanisms to protect against it.

How does it work?

DNS tunneling attack takes advantage of the DNS protocol and achieves tunneling malware or data through a client-server model. Let’s explain how this attack actually works.

It all starts when a user downloads malware or the cybercriminal manages to exploit a vulnerability of the compromised device to transfer a malicious payload. In most cases, the cybercriminal wants to keep a connection with the compromised device, meaning to have the opportunity to run commands on the target device or exfiltrate data. Therefore, the attacker can set a command-and-control (C2) connection. Such traffic should be able to pass via different network perimeter security measures, plus it should avoid detection until it crosses the target network. 

For that reason, DNS is a suitable option for setting up the tunnel. That is a common term in cybersecurity which stands for a protocol connection that carries a payload that includes data (commands) and passes through perimeter security measures. That way, the DNS tunneling attack manages to hide information within DNS queries and send them to a server controlled by the cybercriminal. The DNS traffic passes freely through perimeter security measures, such as firewalls. For the purpose of setting the DNS tunnel, the cybercriminal registers a domain name and configures an authoritative name server under their control. 

Then the malware or payload on the compromised device initiates a DNS query for a subdomain that defines an encoded communication. The Recursive DNS server (DNS resolver) obtains the DNS query and routes it to the attacker’s server. The server responds with malicious DNS data containing data (command) back to the compromised device. That way, the attack passes without triggering any security measures.

Let’s break the DNS Tunneling attack into the following steps:

1. The cybercriminal registers a domain and points it to the server under its control. There is installed tunneling malware software. 
2. The cybercriminal infects a device with malware, penetrating the victim’s firewall. DNS requests don’t have restrictions for passing in and out of the firewall.
3. The Recursive DNS server (DNS resolver) requests the IP address through root and top-level domain servers.
4. Then the DNS resolver routes the DNS query back to the authoritative DNS server, which is controlled by the attacker and contains the tunneling software. 
5. The connection between the cybercriminal and the target is created without any notice.

Why do Attackers Use DNS Tunneling?

Attackers use DNS tunneling to exploit the widespread and often under-monitored nature of DNS traffic. This attack allows them to secretly transmit data between a compromised system and a command-and-control server. Since DNS queries and responses are generally trusted and rarely scrutinized, this technique can easily bypass firewalls and other security measures. DNS tunneling allows attackers to maintain persistent access, execute remote commands, and exfiltrate sensitive data without detection. The global reach and minimal inspection of DNS make it an ideal medium for hidden communication and data transfer.

Detecting DNS Tunneling

There are several techniques that can help you detect a DNS tunneling attack. However, we can distinguish them into two main categories – payload analysis and traffic analysis.

Payload analysis – The DNS payload for one or more requests and responses is going to be examined for tunnel signs.

• Examining the size of the request and answer. Typically, DNS tunneling utilities are pushing to place as much data into the requests and answers as possible. Therefore, the tunneling requests are more likely to have long labels. For instance, there are up to 63 symbols and, in general, long names – up to 255 symbols.
• Disorder of hostnames. DNS names that are authentic commonly contain dictionary words and have some kind of meaning. Names that are encoded are usually out of any order, plus they are even using a set with more characters.
• Statistical Examination. You can detect tunneling by checking the specific character staff of the DNS names. DNS names that are authentic commonly contain fewer numbers. On the other hand, encoded names tend to have a lot of numbers. Examining the percentage of numerical characters in domain names and examining the percentage of the length of the Longest Meaningful Substring (LMS) could also help you.
• Uncommon DNS Record Types. You can check for DNS records that are not usually implemented by a regular client. For example, you can examine the TXT records.
• Violating a policy. In case a policy directs every DNS lookup to pass through an internal DNS server, violations of that policy may be employed as a detection technique.
• Special Signatures. You can use a special signature to examine precise attributes in a DNS header. Then scan for particular content in the payload.

Traffic analysis – The traffic is under examination over time.

• Volume of DNS traffic per IP address. A simple and easy to accomplish technique is to check the specific amount of DNS traffic that is coming from a particular client IP address. 
• Volume of DNS traffic per domain. Another method that is very easy and basic is by checking for massive amounts of traffic towards a precise domain name. DNS tunnel utilities are typically established to tunnel the data by involving a precise domain name. Therefore, all of the tunneled traffic is going to be that exact domain name.
• The number of hostnames per domain. DNS tunneling utilities ask for an individual hostname on every request. That effects by increasing the number unusually compared to a normal authentic domain name.
• Geographic location of DNS server. You can check for a massive amount of DNS traffic that is directed to geographical areas where you don’t offer your services or products.
• The history of a domain. You can examine when an A record (AAAA record) or NS record was created and added to a domain name. That technique is very useful for detecting domain names that are utilized for malicious criminal actions.

Source: GIAC Certifications

Protection against DNS Tunneling attacks

DNS is a crucial service, so it is going to be a problem if you are considering blocking it. Thus, protection against a DNS Tunneling attack involves several actions that are going to help you prevent such an attack.

• You should keep a closer look and track of questionable IP addresses and domain names that are from non familiar sources.
• You can set all of the internal clients to direct their DNS requests (DNS queries) to an internal DNS server. That way, you can filter potential malicious domains. 
• It is very important to stay watchful for any suspicious domain names, and it is best if you always monitor the DNS traffic. That will help reduce the chance for a DNS tunneling attack to appear.
• Establish a DNS firewall for recognizing and stopping any hacker intrusion.
• A real-time DNS solution that is able to detect uncommon DNS queries and unusual traffic patterns on the DNS server is another excellent option.

Using DNS Monitoring against DNS tunneling

DNS Monitoring can be crucial in mitigating the risks of DNS tunneling by providing real-time visibility into DNS traffic patterns and behavior. By constantly analyzing DNS queries and responses, DNS monitoring can detect anomalies and suspicious activities that indicate tunneling attempts. This proactive monitoring allows organizations to quickly identify and respond to potential threats, such as secret data exfiltration and command and control communications before they escalate. Additionally, the ClouDNS Monitoring service offers different alerting mechanisms that notify administrators of any unusual DNS activities. That way, they can take timely action to investigate and block malicious traffic. Thanks to the extensive monitoring capabilities, organizations can strengthen their DNS infrastructure and improve their ability to defend against different threats, including DNS tunneling.

Risks and Impact of DNS Tunneling

DNS tunneling attack poses several significant risks to organizations:

• Data Breaches: Attackers can exfiltrate sensitive information, including personal data, intellectual property, and financial records.
• Unauthorized Access: Allows attackers to maintain hidden, persistent access to compromised systems.
• Operational Disruption: Enables the execution of remote commands, potentially leading to system malfunctions or downtime.
• Financial Loss: Costs associated with data loss, various fines, and restoration efforts can be significant.
• Reputational Damage: Public exposure of breaches can harm an organization’s reputation, leading to loss of customer trust and business.
• Detection Challenges: The nature of DNS tunneling makes it difficult to detect and mitigate, increasing the potential for long-term undetected exploitation.

Examples and Cases

Over the years, several famous examples of DNS tunneling have highlighted its power as a cyber threat:

• Sea Turtle Campaign (2019)

The Sea Turtle campaign in 2019 highlighted the advanced tactics of state-sponsored cyber espionage. This campaign targeted domain registrars, telecommunications firms, and government entities to compromise their DNS records. Attackers manipulated DNS records to redirect legitimate traffic to malicious servers under their control. DNS tunneling played a key role in allowing the attackers to maintain persistent access, exfiltrate sensitive information, and establish C2 channels while remaining undetected.

• SUNBURST Malware (2020)

The SUNBURST malware, a significant component of the SolarWinds supply chain attack in late 2020, demonstrated the sophistication of modern cyber threats. SUNBURST used DNS tunneling as one of its communication methods to establish contact with its C2 infrastructure. By embedding communication within DNS queries and responses, the malware achieved secret data exchange with remote servers. That way, attackers were able to exfiltrate stolen data and receive further instructions while avoiding detection by security measures focused on more traditional communication protocols.

• UDPoS Malware (2015)

The UDPoS malware, discovered in 2015, demonstrated a variation of DNS tunneling where attackers used User Datagram Protocol (UDP) packets to exfiltrate stolen credit card data. The malware encoded the stolen information into DNS queries, which were then transmitted over UDP to avoid detection by traditional network security controls. This technique allowed the attackers to bypass network monitoring tools that usually focus on Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) traffic.

TCP Monitoring vs. UDP Monitoring

Conclusion

DNS tunneling is a severe cyber threat. It could lead to massive negative consequences. This is because the cybercriminal uses the tunnel for malicious ends, like exfiltrating information. In addition, there is no direct association between the cybercriminal and the target. That makes it hard to detect the attacker’s attempt.

The post DNS Tunneling attack – What is it, and how to protect ourselves? appeared first on ClouDNS Blog.

What is Anycast DNS?

Anycast DNS is a network addressing and routing technique in which a single IP address is assigned to multiple servers distributed in different geographical locations. It is a method used to improve the performance and reliability of DNS (Domain Name System). 

With Anycast DNS, when a user requests a website, the DNS query is directed to the nearest available server based on network topology, latency, and other factors. As a result, Anycast DNS provides redundancy, load balancing, and high availability.

Unicast vs Anycast DNS Routing

When discussing DNS routing methods, it’s essential to compare Anycast DNS with the traditional Unicast DNS to understand their differences and advantages fully.

Unicast DNS is known as the more traditional form of DNS routing, where each DNS server has a unique IP address. When a DNS query is made, it is routed to a specific server, which has been assigned to handle DNS requests. While Unicast DNS is simple and effective for many applications, it has limitations in scalability, speed, and redundancy. The DNS response time can vary significantly depending on the user’s distance from the server, which can also become a single point of failure if the server goes down.

Anycast DNS uses a single IP address across multiple servers distributed globally. This setup allows a DNS query to be routed to the nearest server in terms of network latency, making it significantly faster and more reliable than Unicast DNS. Anycast DNS provides redundancy and load balancing because if one server fails, the DNS query will automatically reroute to the next closest server. It is especially beneficial for handling large volumes of traffic and defending against DDoS attacks, as the traffic is distributed among multiple nodes rather than directed at a single server.

How does Anycast DNS work?

Anycast DNS uses a group of servers that hold the same IP address rather than having a single DNS server to which all DNS queries go. This results in faster response times and increased reliability, as requests are automatically directed to the closest server

Here are the simple steps involved in how Anycast DNS works:

1. Multiple DNS servers are set up across different geographic locations, each having the same IP address.
2. When a user makes a DNS query for a domain name, the query is sent to the nearest DNS server.
3. The DNS server receiving the query then responds with the IP address of the requested domain name.
4. The user’s device then uses this IP address to establish a connection with the server hosting the domain.
5. If the nearest DNS server is unavailable due to any reason, the query is automatically redirected to the next nearest available DNS server.

Advantages

Anycast DNS is a highly beneficial solution that offers numerous advantages, including the following:

• Anycast is easy to configure. You have just one IP that is assigned to every server, no matter where they are in the world. In more traditional DNS solutions, you would have to configure for every location separately.
• High availability. As we said before, the router will redirect the user to the closest server, but if the server is down, it will simply redirect to one of the rest. They all have a mirror image of the same DNS records, if one is down, the closest next will get the load. The users won’t even notice it.
• Scaling. Anycast DNS is very easy to put in practice. Imagine you are getting too much load on a particular server, what do you do? You just deploy one more server in the area where you need it. It is easy to set it up, and you can do it very quickly. This is one of the common ways how we are expanding our Anycast network.
• Enhanced security. Anycast DNS can help mitigate Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks by distributing the traffic across multiple servers, making it harder to overwhelm a single server.
• Load balancing. Anycast DNS distributes requests evenly among servers, preventing overload and ensuring load balancing and optimal use of resources.

Anycast DNS network by ClouDNS

You can take advantage of the Anycast technology with each of our Premium DNS, and DDoS protected DNS plans. You will have access to 50+ Points of Presence (PoPs) around the world. There are real hardware devices in each one. These points are distributed in a way to provide fast connectivity to everybody. It also serves as a load balancer to reduce the stress on a single domain server. In the case of DDoS protected DNS plans, you can resist a strong attack by distributing the traffic. 

With ClouDNS, you can use a route monitoring at each PoP. It analyzes the routes and provides the optimal path. Such a system lowers the downtime dramatically. If one server is down, the request is going to another server without extra complications. ClouDNS provides the highest SLA for each location. 

We also provide 24/7 Live Chat support. Our technical team is here to help you if you have any questions regarding our services.

To take advantage of our Premium Anycast DNS service, just go to our page and choose the best plan for you. Our Anycast network consists of 50+ Data Centers on six continents, and we also offer Anycast DDoS protected DNS servers and Anycast GeoDNS servers.

Think about your needs, and if you are not sure what to choose, you can always contact our customer service for help.

Premium Anycast DNS service - Try for free

Conclusion

In conclusion, Anycast DNS is a powerful technology that can help improve website performance, availability, and security. Operating with a network of servers spread across multiple locations allows users to connect to the server closest to them, reducing latency and improving website response times. Additionally, it can help protect against DDoS attacks by spreading the traffic. Whether you’re running a small website or a large-scale application, Anycast DNS can help ensure that your users have a fast, reliable, and secure experience. It is definitely worth considering as a valuable addition to your infrastructure.

The post What is Anycast DNS and how does it work? appeared first on ClouDNS Blog.

Primary DNS server explained

The Primary DNS server is also known as Master server. It is responsible for hosting the zone file. This file contains information about the domain in forms of DNS records. Each domain can have just one Primary DNS server. You can manage the zone by those DNS records. You can add, edit or delete those records. The Primary also synchronizes its data with the rest of the servers if there are some. There are usually Secondary DNS servers who have a copy of the zone data. This helps with redundancy and guarantees more up time.

How does the Primary DNS server work?

The Primary DNS server is responsible for maintaining the authoritative copy of the DNS zone file for a particular domain. The DNS zone file contains information about the domain’s resource records, such as IP addresses, MX records, and NS records. 

When a recursive server receives a DNS query for a domain, it will search for the IP address associated with that domain. If the DNS resolver is configured to use the Primary DNS server for the domain, it will send the DNS query to that server. The Primary will then search its zone file to find the requested information and send it back to the DNS resolver, which will, in turn, return the information to the user.

The Primary is also responsible for updating the DNS zone file with any changes that occur to the DNS data. These changes can happen, for example, when creating a new DNS record or adding a new email server. Once the Primary DNS server updates the zone file, it notifies other DNS servers that it is authoritative for that domain, so they can update their own cache accordingly.

Is just a single Primary DNS server enough?

Yes, it is possible for a single Primary DNS server to be sufficient for a domain name, yet it poses a significant risk of a single point of failure. If the server experiences any issues such as maintenance, updates, power outages, or technical difficulties, there will be no backup to respond to DNS queries. Therefore, it is recommended to have a network of at least a few Secondary DNS servers that can share the load, reducing stress on the Primary DNS server and providing redundancy.

How to protect your Primary DNS?

There are different approaches for keeping your Primary DNS safe and protected.

First let’s think about the data flow. In every step, where there is a data transfer, there could be a potential threat.

1. The zone file. It can get corrupted by an accidental mistake or malicious activities. It should be secure, and you need to do a backup often. Also you will need an excellent administrator to handle it.
2. Dynamic updates. Here, significant threats are the unauthorized updates. You can limit only specific IP to be able to make such updates.
3. Zone transferring. Again, limit the IPs which can do it.
4. Remote queries. Better use a secure VPN for this kind of interaction or someone can intercept your remote queries.

The second excellent solution for guaranteeing the security and protection of your network is Secondary DNS. Once you implement it, you will have an additional set of Authoritative DNS servers for your domain name. That way, if your Primary DNS server fails and is not able to handle the incoming DNS requests for your domain, the Secondary DNS servers will handle the load, and your website or service will remain available for your clients. Secondary DNS is also known as Backup DNS due to the fact it makes a copy and stores all of the DNS data (DNS records) for your domain. So, it is a secure backup if you lose your original information.

How to use both Primary DNS and Secondary DNS?

You can use ClouDNS as your Primary DNS provider and use another company for Secondary DNS or vice versa. Just remember that you control the zone file through your Primary DNS, so better choose a provider that offers easy to use control panel and has excellent customer service.

Best Practices for Primary DNS Server Management

Let’s talk a little bit about the best practices when it comes to managing a Primary DNS server:

• Regular Backups: Performing regular backups of the Primary DNS Server’s configuration and zone files is essential. It safeguards against data loss. This practice ensures that, in the event of a server failure or other catastrophic events, administrators can quickly restore the DNS data to its previous state.
• Monitoring and Logging: Implementing comprehensive monitoring and logging tools helps administrators track the performance and health of the Primary DNS Server. Monitoring tools can provide insights into query volumes and response times and detect unusual or suspicious activities. The practice is crucial for identifying potential issues and mitigating security threats. 
• Redundancy and High Availability: To enhance reliability, administrators should configure Secondary DNS servers to provide redundancy. Secondary servers will still respond to DNS queries if the Primary DNS server becomes unavailable, which also helps minimize downtime.
• Security Measures: The security of the Primary DNS Server is paramount to prevent unauthorized access or tampering. Implementing secure practices, such as access controls, firewalls, and routine security audits, helps safeguard the integrity of the DNS records.
• Regular Updates and Patching: Keeping the DNS server software up-to-date with the latest patches and updates is crucial for handling security vulnerabilities and ensuring optimal performance. Regular updates also help incorporate new features and improvements.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Primary DNS server is a crucial component of the DNS hierarchy, responsible for maintaining the authoritative copy of the DNS zone file for a particular domain. It plays a central role in DNS resolution, and keeping it safe and protected is essential.

The post What is a Primary DNS server and how does it work? appeared first on ClouDNS Blog.

The Domain Name System (DNS) is often compared to a phonebook, and there are a lot of similarities. It is another type of database. DNS is a global system that we all use on a daily basis when we want to access any website. It contains and distributes information about domain names and their corresponding IP addresses. This way, when we type a simple domain name, our browsers or application will use the DNS to search for its IP address and connect us. The DNS is divided into domains from different levels, and it is managed through DNS zones that are decentralized. An administrator of a higher level can delegate a zone to another under it. For example, when you get a domain name (secondary-level domain like yoursite.com), the higher level .com (TLD) can delegate you the right to manage the zone yoursite.com. You can further delegate responsibility for all subdomains like mail.yoursite.com, ftp.yoursite.com, etc. To manage domain names, you add DNS records, which are a set of instructions related to your domains, hosts, services, and more.

Domain Name System explained

List of DNS terms

Here you have the most important DNS terms that you will need to manage your domain name. First, you can learn the basics of DNS, and later you can expand your knowledge with larger articles that go into greater details on topics like DNS records, DNS features, and processes. 

Domain Name

It’s an identifier of a host, a text line, that servers for mapping to an IP address (a line of numbers like: 46.166.142.62) for easy access to a website. By now, you have typed a lot of different domain names in the URL bar of your browser to reach different websites. Example: cloudns.net

Machines have always searched websites through their IP address. Numbers are the best way for machines to understand each other. But numbers are hard to be remembered by humans. That’s why domain names were created. To have a friendly choice for humans to reach the websites they look for.

IP Address

An Internet Protocol address is another host identifier that is created of a line of numbers divided into groups by periods. Example: 46.166.142.62. IP addresses are needed so devices can connect to networks and communicate using the Internet Protocol (IP).

The set of numbers on every public IP address is mathematically generated and allocated by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA). An entity of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).

Basically, IP addresses allow the identification, location, and communication of hosts on a network. Every device uses a unique IP address. This way, the Internet and networks, in general, can distinguish all the websites, routers, connected computers.

Many IPv4 addresses are still in use, but the latest standard IPv6 is growing in popularity.

TLD (Top-level Domain)

Domain names have a hierarchy structure. The top-level domain is one of its parts, and it’s located, reading from right to left, just after the final dot for the root and before the secondary-level domain name. Examples: .com, .gov, .uk, .ru, etc.

Initially, TLDs were created to organize domain names by their purpose, geographical location, field, operation radius. By only reading this part of a domain name, users could also know if a website they visited belonged to a commercial, government, non-profit organization, operating regionally, locally, internationally, and so on.

In the beginning, this use was more strict. In 2010, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) accepted the creation of new, generic, trademark TLDs. Now, TLDs are chosen to obey Marketing objectives too.

FQDN (Fully Qualified Domain Name)

It’s the most complete domain name that hosts can have. It points to the exact location of a domain name in the domain name system (DNS) tree hierarchy. This is expressed through the three parts that shape every domain name: hostname, second-level domain name, and top-level domain name (TLD). Following this structure, here you have an example: www.cloudns.net.

Anycast DNS

Anycast DNS is a traffic routing method where the same IP address is used for multiple nameservers located in different locations. Usually, there are many locations (points of presence) – at least 20 for a well-sized DNS provider. Having a large number of servers makes Anycast DNS resistant to DNS attacks and provides redundancy in general. 

When a client request a domain, the router will direct its request to the nearest nameserver. This will reduce the latency and offer a better experience for the clients.

Dynamic DNS

Dynamic DNS, also known as DDNS, is an automatic method of updating nameservers. The most common use case is to update IP addresses that are contained in A records (IPv4) or AAAA records (IPv6) when a change has occurred. It is particularly useful for CCTV cameras or remote services because with Dynamic DNS, you don’t need to pay for static IP addresses. The IP addresses will change over time, but they will be updated, and you won’t experience problems. After the initial setup process, you don’t need to interact with the settings, and it will continue to function.

DNSSEC

DNSSEC is a security extension that has the goal to protect DNS communication and stop DNS spoofing. It encrypts the DNS communication with a combination of private and public keys. One that the zone administrator uses to sign it and the other for authentication of the origin of the data. What makes it a good protective mechanism is that it is a complete chain of trust. Starting from the root zone down to the TLD zone, the domain zone, and subdomains, each zone above will have the key for the next one. It adds security to the fast DNS process without a significant slowdown.

DNS Server (types)

There are different DNS servers, and each has specific functionality.

Root server. It belongs to the highest level of DNS servers. It’s the authoritative name server for a specific DNS root zone. It points to the TLD of the requested domain name.

TLD server. It’s responsible of specific TLDs (.com, .gov, .uk, .net, etc.). It will point to the exact, authoritative name server that can provide the IP address for the requested domain name.

Recursive DNS server. The server takes the user’s DNS request and looks for the IP address or other information needed for the requested domain name. It will communicate with all the other DNS servers in the hierarchy for getting this information.

Authoritative DNS server. It contains all the DNS records for the zone it’s in charge of. It answers the requests that recursive DNS servers have by providing the corresponding A or AAAA record and the IP address of the requested domain or another DNS record.

Primary authoritative DNS servers. They answer DNS requests, and they store the original zone file. Therefore, DNS records’ modifications can only be made on these servers. 

Secondary authoritative DNS servers. They also respond to DNS requests, but what they store is a copy of the zone file. This copy is not editable at all, only readable. 

DNS Zone

The DNS system has a structure that looks like an inverted tree. It is divided into domain names on different levels. The highest level is the root, after many TLDs, secondary-level domains, and later multiple levels of subdomains. To administrate those domain names, there are DNS zones on each level. The DNS zones are partitions of the Domain Name Space that contain DNS zone files with DNS records for managing. A DNS zone administrator can add or remove DNS records inside the Primary DNS zone.

DNS records

DNS records are simple files that contain text with instructions related to the domain name they belong to. They can link domain names to IP addresses, add instructions for email servers, point to specific services, and much more. The DNS records are hosted inside a host file in a DNS zone. The zone is located inside an authoritative nameserver.

There are many types of DNS records, but the most popular ones are:

A record – Links a domain name to an IP address. 

CNAME record – Forwards subdomains to the domain name.

MX record – Indicates the email servers that should receive emails for the domain name.

TXT record – Multiple verifications and authentication purposes.

NS record – Shows the nameservers for the domain name.

SOA record – Start of authority.

SRV record – Links services to port numbers.

PTR record – The Pointer record links an IP address to a domain name.

The Importance of DNS Terminology

Understanding DNS terminology is crucial for various reasons, including the following:

• Efficient Troubleshooting: Solid knowledge of DNS terms allows IT professionals to diagnose and resolve technical issues more efficiently. Identifying the root cause of problems, such as domain resolution failures or misconfigured DNS records, becomes significantly easier and faster.
• Enhanced Security: Cybersecurity is a top priority nowadays. Therefore, it is best for professionals to understand DNS terminology in order to detect and respond to potential threats. Understanding terms like DNSSEC, DNS spoofing, cache poisoning, and DDoS attacks helps strengthen the security of networks and web services.
• Performance Optimization: Website owners and developers can benefit from understanding DNS terminology to optimize the performance of their online presence. Fine-tuning DNS settings, minimizing TTL values, and ensuring proper DNS record configurations contribute to faster and more reliable website performance.
• Effective Communication: Clear communication within IT teams, especially between developers, network administrators, and support teams, is crucial, especially when they need to communicate complex technical issues. A common understanding of DNS terms allows effective communication and collaboration within teams.
• Domain Management: Individuals and organizations involved in registering and managing domains must be familiar with DNS terminology to make informed decisions. Knowledge of terms like TLDs, registrars, and DNS hosting providers empowers domain owners to navigate the complexities of the domain ecosystem.

Conclusion

This list of basic DNS terms you should know is a good start for exploring the DNS. If you want to learn even more, follow our blog, in which we regularly post new extended articles. Also, don’t miss our Wiki page and YouTube channel.

The post Basic DNS terms you should know (List + Infographic) appeared first on ClouDNS Blog.

How to check the TTL using Windows OS?

You will need to open the Command Prompt as an administrator. From there, you need to use the nslookup. Write this on the command line “nslookup -type=soa www.cloudns.net”. You will get an answer from the authoritative server with the TTL.

You can change the type of the record and look it up for A, AAAA, MX or another type.

How to check the TTL using Linux OS and Mac OS?

You will need to use the dig command.

“dig a cloudns.net” This will give you a long answer. If you want just the TTL, you can try dig +nocmd +noall +answer +ttlid a www.cloudns.net

You can check the different DNS records by changing the text on the last before the domain. For example for AAAA records it will be: dig +nocmd +noall +answer +ttlid aaaa www.cloudns.net and for the MX it will be: dig +nocmd +noall +answer +ttlid mx www.cloudns.net

The previous answers are provided by the recursive servers. If you want to ask directly an authoritative nameserver you should add “+trace” after the “dig” and it will look like this: dig +trace +nocmd +noall +answer +ttlid aaaa www.cloudns.netTTL for different DNS records

• If you want to setup different TTL for every single record you can use our Anycast DNS network!

Easy way to check the SOA TTL value

Now, let’s see how to check the SOA TTL value, which is important for understanding the duration DNS records are cached and how quickly changes are propagated across the internet. For this purpose, we will use the ClouDNS Free DNS tool, a straightforward and effective solution for DNS management and analysis.

1. Access ClouDNS Free DNS Tool
Navigate to the ClouDNS website and locate their Free DNS Tool. This tool is specifically designed for conducting DNS audits and other DNS-related inquiries.

2. Enter the domain name
In the Free DNS Tool interface, you’ll find a field to input the domain name you wish to investigate. This is where you type in the full domain (for example, “cloudns.net”). It’s crucial to ensure the domain name is entered correctly to get accurate results.

3. Choose DNS audit and Select DNS resolver
Once the domain is entered, you need to specify the type of inquiry you’re making. Select “DNS audit” from the available options. Then, choose a DNS resolver. Typically, you might have options like Cloudflare, Google, etc. The choice of DNS resolver can influence the results, as different resolvers might have different cached data.

4. Review the results
After initiating the audit, the tool will process your request and display the results. In these results, look for the SOA (Start of Authority) record section. This part of the report will include information about the primary nameserver, the responsible party for the domain, and various timers related to the domain’s DNS records.

Most importantly, locate the “Default TTL” value within the SOA record section. This number, typically shown in seconds, is the SOA TTL value for the domain. It indicates the duration for which DNS records are cached by resolvers.

Shorter or longer TTL?

Many clients prefer to set the TTL to a long period like 2 days (172 800 seconds). This will reduce the load on the DNS servers, because the queries need to be done less frequently. This can be good if you have a very limited DNS plan, but your clients won’t be happy about it. Make your clients’ experience better, with lower TTL and frequently updated records.  Shorter TTL is useful if you have a very dynamic environment.

A and AAAA records. You can set it as low as 60 seconds if you really need your clients to get the latest update, but we recommend to have it around 1-2 hours to reduce the load on the servers. You can put it as long as 12 hours or a whole day.

SOA record. Unlike other DNS records, SOA controls the speed of DNS updates. A longer TTL (e.g., 48 hours) delays updates but reduces server load. A shorter TTL (e.g., 2 hours) speeds up updates but increases server queries. Choose based on your update frequency and server capacity.

CNAME record. If you need to deliver a lot of content to different parts, you can lower the TTL but in normal conditions you can leave it to 12 hours

MX record. System that have a static IP (it doesn’t change) can put 1800 seconds or more, but the rest with dynamic IP must keep the TTL low.

TXT record. This one you don’t change a lot, so you can set it up to 12hours.

You can experiment with the TTL to see which suits you best. Remember the lower it is, the more often the recursive servers will update the information which is good for your clients. But this will signify a bigger load on your servers and more queries. You should see the results and think if you want to move to a lower or to a higher DNS plan.

30-day Free Trial for Premium Anycast DNS hosting

The post TTL and how to check TTL appeared first on ClouDNS Blog.

DNS Zones and Domains

The DNS is a hierarchy structure of domains. It starts from the root domain “.”. Underneath it, there are the TLD domains like “com”, “org”, “net” and so on. Then it is time for the domains of the second level like “co.uk” and so on. All of the domains are hosted using different DNS zones, which are globally distributed and hosted by DNS servers in different international locations.

A Domain is a unique name, like cloudns.net, in the DNS. This domain has its DNS zone which hosts all the DNS records for it – A records, AAAA records, MX records and more.

What is DNS Delegation?

DNS Delegation, also called DNS Zone Delegation, is a process of assigning authority over a domain or subdomain to different DNS servers to keep records updated. When the Authoritative DNS server to which the zone is delegated responds to DNS requests, it recursively resolves the CNAME target or responds with a referral. By delegating responsibility over a subdomain to another DNS server, an organization can receive more control over the enabling and disabling services, such as mail exchange, hosted on the subdomain.

When do you need DNS Delegation?

The DNS gives you the option to separate the namespace into different DNS zones. You can save them, copy them or distribute them to other DNS servers. There are few reasons to do it:

• You would like to load balance by dividing one large zone into more, smaller zones. This will increase the DNS resolution and add extra security.
• You desire to delegate management of part of your DNS namespace to another location or department in your organization.
• Use the DNS Delegation for adding various subdomains. Use them for different purposes.
• Delegate control of part of your DNS namespace to another location.
• You can restructure your namespace and make other DNS servers responsible for a part of the whole information.

When you create new DNS zone, you must have delegation records in other zones that point toward the authoritative DNS servers for the new one.

The resource record information of the new DNS zone will be stored in a DNS server, which will be the primary master for that zone. You can improve the security and duplicate the zone information to another DNS server, such as Secondary DNS. It will serve as a backup DNS and will give you additional protection.

How do you delegate a subdomain?

Delegating authority over a subdomain to another organization or DNS server is a simple process. All you need to do is add NS records for the subdomain into the parent domain, pointing at the delegated server. This means that the trusted server will handle all DNS requests related to the subdomain. However, it is essential to be careful when delegating a subdomain, as any problems with the server or domain management will reflect badly on you. Therefore, it is recommended to use the “dig +norec” command on all the servers to check that the delegated server is authoritative for the subdomain before delegating it.

Benefits

• Provides an additional layer of security as delegated servers can be set up to work as a failover in the event of a system failure on the root server 
• Delegated servers can employ more secure protocols than the root server, such as DNSSEC (Domain Name System Security Extensions) 
• Allows organizations to create multiple backups, ensuring data and resources are fully protected in the event of an attack 
• Reduces the attack surface by compartmentalizing the authoritative server from its clients, preventing DNS attacks

DNS Delegation example

DNS zone delegation is a process that allows organizations and companies to delegate authority over a portion of their DNS namespace to another entity. This means an external party can manage a part of a domain’s DNS settings, such as adding or removing A records or CNAME records.

There are many examples where companies delegate part of their DNS space. Such as examples are universities that have delegated a portion of their namespace for managing student email accounts. Or businesses that have delegated their Domain Name System to a third-party service provider, like ClouDNS, to provide better speed, security, and reliability for their website.

Here are some examples of what we explained above:

• Subdomain delegation – assigning a DNS server for a specific subdomain such as ‘email.university.com’ to be managed separately from the root domain ‘university.com’.
• Domain alias delegation – For domains in different TLDs (Top Level Domains) such as ‘example.com’ and ‘example.net’, delegating part of the DNS management to another server, allowing the same DNS records to be shared across both domains.

Glue records: The key to effective DNS Delegation

In the context of DNS Delegation, Glue records play an indispensable role by linking the parent domain with its subdomains. Essentially, these records function by providing the required A and AAAA records that establish a connection between the primary domain and its delegated counterparts. Glue records are particularly crucial for resolving what are known as circular dependencies, which arise between domain names and their associated nameservers.

Suggested article: What DNS Branding is?

To illustrate, let’s consider an example: a main domain named example.net is delegating a subdomain, say, blog.example.net, to dedicated nameservers – ns1.blog.example.net and ns2.blog.example.net. In this scenario, because these nameservers are under the subdomain they are assigned to manage, Glue records are essential. They help in pinpointing the IP addresses of these nameservers. Absent these Glue records, the DNS would find itself in an endless resolution cycle, unable to properly locate the nameservers. Therefore, the parent domain, example.org in this case, must include not only the NS records that indicate delegation but also the A (or AAAA) records that effectively link the nameserver names to their IP addresses, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted DNS resolution process.

What is reverse DNS zone delegation?

Reverse DNS zone delegation is a process that allows organizations to delegate responsibility over a PTR (Pointer) record to a different zone within their domain name space. It is a two-step process where the organization’s name servers have first delegated the responsibility to handle the DNS records related to its domain names, then the reverse DNS zone.

Reverse DNS Delegation enables organizations to provide faster resolution for DNS requests. Furthermore, it is usually used for security and reliability purposes and for instituting adequate access control policies. By employing rDNS Delegation, organizations can have more control over how their domain and subdomains are accessed and managed.

Lame delegation

Lame delegation occurs in DNS when a nameserver is incorrectly configured or fails to respond authoritatively for a domain it’s listed to serve. This often happens when the NS records in the parent domain point to a server that is not configured for the specified subdomain, resulting in failed or improper DNS queries.

For instance, consider a domain, example.net, that delegates a subdomain, blog.example.net, to a set of nameservers. If one of these nameservers, say ns1.blog.example.net, is not correctly configured to resolve queries for blog.example.net, or if it’s completely unresponsive, this results in lame delegation. Clients trying to access blog.example.net might experience delays or inability to reach the site, as their DNS queries partially fail due to the non-responsive or misconfigured server.

To prevent lame delegation, it is crucial for domain administrators to regularly verify that all listed nameservers are correctly configured and responsive for all the domains and subdomains they are intended to serve. This includes ensuring that any changes in the DNS configuration are accurately reflected across all relevant nameservers. Regular monitoring and auditing of DNS settings are essential to identify and rectify any instances of lame delegation promptly, thereby maintaining the integrity and reliability of the DNS system.

Conclusion

DNS Delegation will significantly increase the performance of your DNS network. Thanks to this feature, the whole DNS is so easily scalable. It will reduce the load, increase the speed and redundancy. It is used for almost all subdomains. Knowing how to manage your DNS will increase the performance greatly.

The post DNS Delegation appeared first on ClouDNS Blog.

DNS – domain name system is a marvelous invention. It makes it easy for all of us to enter our favorite addresses on the web. We don’t need to remember thousands of IP numbers of all websites that we use; we simply write the domain name and the DNS magically matches our text with the associated IP and show us the result.

The Traditional Approach: Self-Managed DNS

First, let’s investigate the option of creating and using our DNS servers.
There are few advantages and disadvantages that we would like to share with you.

Advantages
An obvious benefit of such a move is the control. You are the administrator and you can set values and change parameters, making changes is easier and faster than outsourcing it to another company.
You can have more options in your interface in comparison with a managed DNS of another company. If you have enough knowledge this can be very useful but, on the other hand, if you are not so familiar with managing servers, it can be confusing.

Disadvantages
One apparent problem is the additional administrative work. You must make sure the servers work correctly and to be updating your knowledge regularly on how to protect it from new vulnerabilities. This extra activity is very time-consuming.
You need to be checking all the time for DDoS attacks and prevent them. You don’t want your servers to be down.

And now let’s see why you could be more interested in using managed DNS servers.

The Game-Changer: Managed DNS

Giving the task of managing your DNS to another company has its benefits. You will be liberated of most of the administrative tasks and the constant worry that your servers can go down. Using a provider like us – ClouDNS, you can enjoy the following benefits:

Infrastructure based in the cloud
Our DNS servers are cloud-based, which gives you the ability to monitor live the DNS zones status at the different locations. Adding extra DNS resources is possible anytime and instantly. After you set up your zones, our system will easily synchronize across all points of presence (POPs) simultaneously.

Professional DNS tools and features
We offer many professional instruments and features for Primary, Secondary and Reverse DNS. In addition to all the types of DNS records that we provide, you can benefit from Web Forwarding, E-mail Forwarding, Domain parking, Dynamic DNS, HTTP REST API, DNS statistics and more!

DDoS Protection
It is quite hard to protect your domain name/names from SPOF (Single point of failure). We have long experience working with DDoS Mitigation companies. We offer extra service of DDoS Protected DNS. Like this your website, application or game server can be adequately protected.

Custom-build options
With ClouDNS you can decide what you need and choose exactly: how many and what types of servers do you need, where would you like your servers to be located, and whether you want DDoS protection or not.

Own DNS servers or Managed DNS?

Managed DNS services offer a host of advantages over traditional DNS servers. Below, we’ll explore these differences in detail:

Furthermore, there is an option between these two methods – Hybrid DNS solution. It combines aspects of both Traditional DNS and Managed DNS to address specific needs. They can be particularly useful for organizations looking to balance cost-effectiveness with performance and reliability.

Choosing the Right Managed DNS Provider

When considering Managed DNS, it’s essential to choose the right provider. Here are some factors to consider:

• Global Network: Ensure that the provider has a global network of servers to guarantee low latency and high availability for users worldwide.
• Security Features: Evaluate the security features offered, such as DDoS protection, DNSSEC support, and threat intelligence.
• Performance Optimization: Look for providers that offer performance-enhancing technologies like Anycast routing and intelligent traffic management.
• Scalability: Verify that the provider can easily accommodate your growth without compromising performance.
• Support and Reliability: Check customer reviews and testimonials to gauge the provider’s reputation for customer support and uptime.
• Cost: Compare pricing plans and consider the value you receive in terms of performance, security, and reliability.

Managed DNS for Content Delivery

Managed DNS plays a pivotal role in optimizing Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) and enhancing user experiences:

For content providers seeking to elevate CDN performance, Managed DNS:

• Reduces Latency: By intelligently routing users to the nearest CDN server, it minimizes lag for media streaming and content retrieval.
• Ensures Global Reach: Content remains readily accessible worldwide, even during peak demand periods, such as live streaming events.

Moreover, Managed DNS enables precise content delivery strategies, such as Geo-targeting for region-specific content delivery and Personalization by leveraging location and user preferences to make content recommendations. These improvements are particularly valuable for content providers aiming to captivate a global audience and deliver exceptional digital experiences.

How to create your own CDN using DNS

Conclusion

Now that you know more about the topic of Managed DNS vs. own DNS, you can choose easier. Would you try on your own or would you prefer to trust an experienced DNS provider who will manage and administrate your DNS servers?

You can choose a Premium DNS plan from here and start your 30-day completely free trial (no credit card required) or sign up for a free account and test for yourself.

The post Why do we need Managed DNS? appeared first on ClouDNS Blog.

But first, let’s explain it to you in a simple way so you really understand why this can help you with your company network.

What is a DNS server?

Imagine it as a massive phone book. They contain a register of domain names and translate them to IP (internet protocol) addresses. For us humans it is easy to remember the domain names but the computers, they prefer numbers to orientate so they access websites based on their IPs.
The information of those DNS servers is saved and organized in the Central Registry. Internet providers and Host companies need to check with the Central Registry to get all the DNS updates.
When you write the following web address www.facebook.com, your service provider will check the DNS for this website, then translate to machine language and direct you to the following IP 66.220.144.0.

We would like to share with you what kind of addressing methods there are and what are their benefits.

Unicast: One Machine, One IP

First, let’s start with Unicast, this is widely used internet scheme. Every node on the network gets a unique IP address.

Routers have a map of the IPs and keep them organized in a way that they can show you the shortest path from one node to another. The packet of data is sent from a router to the next until it gets to the end point. Just one server has the IP that is the final destination. It is a very simple scheme.

Anycast: Many Machines, One IP

Anycast has something very useful that saves a lot of time. It allows many machines to have the same IP. In the same way, from any point in the world, you will be searching for the same IP. But when you do the request, it will travel not just to one point in the world but to the closest machine with the same IP. This makes it faster and far more practical.

Another benefit is network resilience. Even if many of the data centers are down, the request will travel until it finds one that is online.

Safety, most Anycast servers are very strong against DDoS attacks. In a usual Unicast configuration, the machine can be attacked with massive traffic that eventually makes it stuck. In the Anycast, the traffic of the attack with be shared with more machine and won’t affect any of them with the full power.

Anycast DNS setup

It is harder to setup an Anycast network. It is expensive, you need to buy a lot of hardware (servers), plan them in strategic positions around the world, build a very good connection with your upstream providers, and make sure your networking routes pass the information correctly. But in the end it is definitely worth it, it will provide one better experience for your clients, faster, more reliable and of course safer. Their request can go just to the closest machine, without traveling the whole world to the only server you have.

Protect yourself from hackers’ attacks and give a better and faster experience for your users. Check our Anycast DNS plans here and start your 30-day completely free trial (no credit card required).

Start using Anycast DNS technology today!

Start Now!

The post What are the benefits from using Anycast DNS? appeared first on ClouDNS Blog.