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Domain Name System (DNS)

The document discusses the Domain Name System (DNS) which provides human-readable domain names that map to IP addresses. It describes how DNS overcomes the challenges of using IP addresses by implementing a hierarchical, domain-based naming scheme managed by ICANN. DNS functions by providing a distributed database where application programs can query to resolve names to addresses using DNS servers.

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25 views

Domain Name System (DNS)

The document discusses the Domain Name System (DNS) which provides human-readable domain names that map to IP addresses. It describes how DNS overcomes the challenges of using IP addresses by implementing a hierarchical, domain-based naming scheme managed by ICANN. DNS functions by providing a distributed database where application programs can query to resolve names to addresses using DNS servers.

Uploaded by

oculusframes
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Domain Name

System (DNS)
Introduction

Programs often refer to resources using network addresses, such as IP addresses.


IP addresses are difficult for people to remember.

Challenges:
Browsing using IP addresses can be inconvenient, especially when servers change
machines or addresses.
The need for readable names that decouple machine names from machine addresses.
Addressing the Issue: DNS

Solution: High-Level Readable Names:


Introduction of high-level, readable names to overcome the challenges.
Example: The college department Web server known as cs.mec.ac.in.

DNS (Domain Name System):


Host names and IP addresses were originally listed in a file called hosts.txt.
Limitations of the hosts.txt approach, including file size and host name conflicts.
The invention of DNS in 1983 as a hierarchical, domain-based naming scheme.
DNS
Functionality
DNS provides a distributed database system for implementing the naming scheme.
Primarily used for mapping host names to IP addresses.
DNS defined in RFCs 1034, 1035, 2181, and further elaborated in other documents.

Usage:
Application programs use a resolver to map a name to an IP address.
Example: The resolver sends a query to a local DNS server.
DNS server looks up the name and returns the IP address in a response.
Query and response messages are sent as UDP packets.
DNS

Benefits
Overcoming challenges of the hosts.txt approach.
Efficient and scalable management of host names in a large international network.
DNS has been a key part of the Internet since its invention in 1983.
DNS Name Space

Top-Level Management by ICANN:


Managing a large and dynamic set of names is challenging.
Drawing a parallel with the postal system, hierarchical addressing is used in DNS.
ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) manages the top of the
naming hierarchy.
Over 250 top-level domains exist, divided into generic and country domains.
ICANN oversees the allocation and management of these domains.
Hierarchy
Internet Domain Hierarchy:
Domains are organized hierarchically, forming a tree
structure.
Each domain can have subdomains, creating a structured
naming system.
Representation of domains in a tree format (Fig. 7-1).
Two types of top-level domains: generic and countries.
Generic domains and their intended use (Fig. 7-2).
Obtaining a Domain

Domain Naming Practices


Registrars appointed by ICANN manage top-level domains.
The hierarchical naming structure using periods.
Absolute and relative domain names and their distinctions.
Case-insensitivity of domain names and character limits.
DNS

A single name server containing the entire DNS


database is impractical due to potential
overloading and reliability issues.
The DNS name space is divided into
nonoverlapping zones to address these challenges.
Domain Resolution

Name resolution involves looking up a domain name to find its address.


Recursive query: Local name server resolves the query on behalf of the requesting host
until a final answer is obtained.
Iterative query: Each name server in the hierarchy returns a partial answer, and the local
name server continues the resolution.
DNS Root Server
Root name servers have information about each top-level domain.
There are 13 root DNS servers, heavily replicated for reliability and performance.
Anycast routing is used for reaching the nearest instance of a root server
Domain Resolution

cs.mec.ac.in
Domain Resolution

Transport Protocol:
DNS queries and responses use the UDP (User Datagram Protocol) transport protocol.
DNS messages are sent in UDP packets with a simple format for queries, answers, and
name servers.
Security Considerations:
DNS is vulnerable to malicious changes, leading to the development of DNS Security
Extensions (DNSSEC), discussed in Chap. 8.

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