What is DNS?
The Domain Name System is a system for matching the domain name to the IP addresses (Internet Protocol) it is identified with, much like the name in your phonebook that matches with the phone number of the person it belongs to. Because it is easier for humans to remember words, the domain name is entered into the browser by the user, computers match it to the IP address it belongs to, and return the requested domain to the user by, for example, launching the website.
How DNS works
There are four DNS servers working together to fulfill client requests.
- DNS resolver - Designed to receive the request then make an additional request to the root nameserver. Information about root nameservers is consolidated into the DNS resolver. Some resolvers use cache, allowing for faster delivery of requests.
- Root nameserver - Translates the root domain, otherwise human language, to the IP address that it belongs to and determines which Top Level Domain it uses.
- TLD nameserver - Determines the DNS server the domain is hosted on. Sends a request to the DNS server, for example Amazon route 53.
- Authoritative nameserver - Confirms the domain and the IP address match, sends the IP address back to the browser, and the requested web page is then opened in the browser.
10Web Premium DNS
Unlike most hosting providers, 10Web provides Premium DNS. Premium DNS providers are better equipped to quickly handle a large scale attack, offering a high level of security at all times. They are also more reliable and allow for more control and configuration of your DNS. One of the most important aspects of premium DNS is speed and redundancy. When using multiple servers spread out across the globe, requests to your website are answered faster, as the server that is closest to the query is the ones used to answer.
We use Amazon Route 53 for all domains hosted on 10Web. The AWS Route 53 DNS infrastructure is secure, fast, scalable, and is one of the most powerful DNS services available.
Once you host a domain on 10Web, a zone is created in AWS Route 53 with the 4 nameservers which you get in your dashboard. After pointing your domain with nameservers, you can start managing your premium DNS through the 10Web dashboard.
Next steps
Manage your DNS records from the 10Web dashboard