What Are Domain Name Servers?

 

Technically, domain names aren’t required to access a website. This is because with or without them, all websites can also be accessed by their IP address. What’s an IP address?  It is a 32-bit numerical identifier that indicates what machine a website is on. The only problem is that for people these numbers, (which come in a series of 4 octets), can be difficult to remember. This is why domains were created. With a domain a person can access a website through a word or phrase, which offers much more convenience than decimated octets.

In order for domains to work, they must use domain name servers, (also known as DNS). These are computers that store data regarding domains and their IP addresses. It does this through a process known as reverse mapping. What happens is after a domain is entered, the domain name server will look up its corresponding IP address in a directory service. It will also correspond with other domain name services to see if they have ‘knowledge’ of the IP address. This process is known as a distributed database, since no ‘official’ entity is responsible for updating information on other domain name servers.

How can a computer be turned into a domain name server? It has to run DNS software. The most common DNS software is BIND, (which stands for Berkeley Internet Name Domain). This, (along with other types of DNS software), works in a hierarchal fashion. The beginning of the hierarchy contains the character ”. It is called the system’s root. Underneath the root there are the domain extension such as .com, .org, .net or .biz.

A domain name server must also have client computers to help with its operation. These client computers are called nameservers and resolvers. Nameservers are responsible for locating a domain’s IP address. The resolvers, on the other hand, store a list of other nameservers on the Internet. This list is used to help contact these nameservers should a domain’s IP address not be stored in the initial domain name server.

Why should a web host bother in investing in a domain name server? It depends on how large their operation is. Smaller-scale web hosting companies probably won’t benefit from such an investment. However, if a company wants to attain the type of status that the largest web hosts have attained, it should consider spending the money. Companies can get domain name servers from enterprises that sell servers.

In conclusion, the domain name server can be considered the heart of how domains work. Without them there would be no way a domain name would be associated with an IP address. This does not mean it’s essential for a web host to invest in one, especially since there are so many cheap domain name services they could use instead. Yet, if they did obtain a domain name server, they would have the ability to sell web hosting as well as domain names to their customers.