Speed matters on the web and as bandwidth requirements continue to increase, the best way to make sure the web stays fast is to bring the content as close to the users as possible. The domain name service (DNS) plays a key role in helping make sure users get to the right resources. Also, popular resources that you are trying to access may exist in many places around the world but want the content at the same time with greater speed.

What Is DNS?

DNS stands for Domain Name System, whenever you type a web address for example www.addictivetips.com in your web browser’s address bar, your computer resolves the domain name to the IP address with the help of the Domain Name Service. Every computer which is connected to the internet uses the Domain Name Service to connect and browse the World Wide Web. By default, Windows uses your ISP’s DNS server. Every ISP has a pair of DNS servers which are used for resolving web addresses for their customers.

If you're not familiar with what exactly DNS servers do, just open command prompt in windows and type ”ping google.com” you will see something like 74.125.19.147. That’s the IP address of google.com. Now on address bar of browser, type the address and hit enter. You will land on google homepage. So, who translates the “google.com” to “74.125.19.147”? Its DNS server. Any user can't go anywhere on the internet until after the target domain is resolved via DNS.open-dns-logo nepal

What Is Open DNS ?

Open DNS is a free DNS resolution service. It is the world’s leading provider of Internet navigation and security. It provides faster and safer internet browsing free of cost. Open DNS provides free alternative DNS servers that anyone can use to do faster web browsing. In many cases, your ISP provider’s DNS servers are overloaded and they are handling more than normal queries, so the overall web access time for all of the customers increases. Use Open DNS’s Name servers in such situations, they are absolutely free and provide quicker and reliable browsing. Open DNS also provides some advanced level services for a minimal cost, but web browsing is absolutely free with their DNS IPs.

Contents you are searching on internet may exist in different parts around the world. In our daily life, we try to travel through lesser congested route which is fastest and destination is closest. Same thing happens here. DNS alone may not be able to figure out the closest location of the server you are requesting. But due to Open DNS, its possible as it could make more better decision and connect to the most optimal server which can make browsing experience faster without a delay.



How to setup Open DNS?

Setting up to Open DNS server is quite easy. Step by step procedures are below:

For Microsoft OS users, open Network and Sharing center and click “Change Adapter Setting” from the left sidebar, right-click the “local area network or wireless network” and select “Properties”. Now from the “Local Area Connection Properties” dialog box, select “TCP/IPv4” and click “Properties” and select “Use the following DNS Server addresses” and enter the “primary” and “secondary” DNS IP addresses.

Currently, the most popular Open DNS service providers are google and OpenDNS.google public dns configuration image nepal

If you want to configure to google’s public DNS, then the IP addresses are:

Primary=> 8.8.8.8

Secondary=> 8.8.4.4

open dns google public dns configurationAnd if you want to configure to OpenDNS, then point the primary and secondary addresses as:

Primary=> 208.67.222.222

Secondary=> 208.67.220.220

If you want to configure in the router so that everyone in your network can take benefit from it, open the router homepage, find the option that asks for DNS Server addresses and enter the DNS Server addresses. Now it’s all done.

Some users are reluctant to add the Google DNS addresses citing privacy concerns saying that google can keep track of what every user is doing, thus breaching the privacy of users architectural issues and privacy concerns. But if you want faster speed irrespective of privacy concerns, you can give it a shot.