Domain Name System(DNS) is an essential part of the World Wide Web. It helps in matching the domain names with the IP addresses. The Internet cannot function without DNS servers, which are located across the world. These servers store the information about domain names and their current IP address.
How does DNS work?
Whenever a user tries to visit a particular website on his/her computer, the DNS server provides the current IP address and helps establish the connection. Website administrators are required to keep an eye on the accessibility and performance of their website. A DNS tester allows them to get the accessibility status of their website across the globe.
There are several DNS checker services, and it can be difficult to choose the right one. Here we have discussed tips to select the right DNS checker.
Easy to Use
The DNS checker should be easy to use. The tool should deliver the required DNS information in an easy to understand format. A popular DNS checker lists all critical DNS servers in a list. The user is required to type the domain name and wait for the test results.
The DNS tester shows the accessibility of the website on all DNS servers in the list. A green check indicates the DNS server holds information about the domain name and the current IP address. A red cross means a particular server does not have a DNS record of your website. It indicates the website may not be accessible to users in a specific region.
Ability to Check Different DNS Records
An IP address is only one element of the domain system. There are several other DNS records like AAAA, CNAME, MX, TXT, NS, PTR, SRV, SOA, and CAA records. Each of them provides different information to the website administrator.
- AAAA provides a DNS record that represents an IPv6 address
- CNAME refers to the canonical name of the website
- MX refers to the Mail-Exchange DNS record in the Domain Name System. An MX record indicates the IP addresses that have permissions to send on behalf of the domain.
- A TXT record contains information about external sources of the domain.
- NS refers to Name Server Record. You need to maintain an accurate NS record for the precise functioning of the domains. The NS record is used to identify domain names.
- PTR refers to the Pointer record. It helps in resolving IP addresses to a particular hostname or domain name. PTR records are useful for reverse DNS records lookups.
- SRV refers to service records in DNS. The SRV record is useful to discover a computer that offers specific services. It is also used to find domain controllers in the Active directory.
- SOA is short for State of Authority Record. It holds administrative information about zones.
- CAA is short for Certification Authority Authorization. This DNS record allows you to specify authorities that are allowed to issue certificates for domain names.
Match Domain Name and IP Addresses
A website hosted at multiple locations can have more than one IP address. The DNS checker tool should allow you to check the domain name records for different IP addresses.
To sum up, a website might face many technical issues preventing its access. A DNS checker tool allows the website administrator to gather crucial technical information about the domain name. The data collected through this tool can help identify any discrepancies in the information, causing access errors.
