A DNS server usually refers to a computer server which contains all the database of public IP addresses and their associated host names (You can find more information about DNS servers here). This hierarchical naming system makes it easier for users to access other devices or computers on the same network or access sites on the internet.
Generally, DNS server management, hold the whole internet as it is and has been touted as one of the most significant discoveries that has driven the world wide web for over three decades.
DNS has a number of advantages and disadvantages. Here are some of them.
- Generally DNS is the only system in the entire world that can help you browse the internet. With the internet becoming an integral part of the society, it has increasingly become important that DNS Servers remain maintained. Without them, then the internet would not exist.
- No need for memorizing IP addresses -DNS servers provide a nifty solution of converting domain or sub domain names to IP addresses. Imagine how it would feel having to memorize the IP addresses of twitter, Facebook, Google or any other site that you normally frequent on a daily basis. It would definitely be horrific. Its system also makes it easy for search engines to be able to categorize and archive information.
- Security enhancement -DNS servers are an important component for the security of your home or work connections. DNS servers that have been designed for security purposes usually ensure that attempts to hack your server environment are thwarted before entry into your machines. However, it’s important to note that the word used is enhanced. This means that you will need other security measures put in place to protect your data, especially if it’s a large organization with tons of sensitive data.
- DNS servers have fast internet connections -People and organizations that use DNS servers can be able to take advantage of high connection speeds that are a key feature in some of these servers.
DNS servers also have primary and secondary connections. This allows you to have internet uptime even when one of the servers is down for maintenance.
- One of the main disadvantages of the DNS is the fact that its registry can only be controlled ICANN, a non-profit organisation with roots tied in one country. This challenges the concept of net neutrality and has been a widely propagated argument over the last three decades.
- DNS queries usually don’t carry any information about the clients who initiated it. This is one of the reasons why DNS has been popular among hackers. This is because the server side will only see the IP address from where the query came from and which can at times be manipulated by hackers.
- DNS servers are based on the principle of a slave-master relationship. This means that if the master server is broken or manipulated in any way, then it will be hard to access the web page or database that was hosted on the server. Hackers have also used this to their advantage. By targeting the server machine and making redirects to other pages, they have been able to find ways of phishing information.