DNS

[geoff1248]

Some time ago I read in a computer magazines about using Open DNS or Google DNS rather than an ISPs own DNS. It must have seemed a good idea at the time so I altered my DNS to Google Public DNS 8.8.8.8. Since that time I have had no DNS problems whatsoever. However, I didn't have any problems before the change.
I have no idea what persuaded me to make the change or what advantages ,perceived or actual, the change has given me.
Was it a good idea to make the change and if so what are/were the advantages?

[ExGrunt]

Massively oversimplifying:


The Domain Name System DNS translates names eg: www.pprune.org (http://www.pprune.org) into the underlying IP address(es) eg: 98.158.194.181 by looking up a database.

Now with any lookup the closer the server the faster the lookup. So if you have a fixed system like a desktop then generally your ISP 'should' provide a faster lookup.
BUT if you have a laptop which moves between networks then your ISP's server may not be accessible from another network - hence the value of using a public DNS server like Google.

As this is a critical part of web browsing you should use both Google servers eg 8.8.8.8 as primary and 8.8.4.4 as your secondary.

Needless to say as it is Google they are almost certainly hoovering up all the DNS queries, so if you are paranoid you may wish to use an alternative public DNS server.

HTH

EG

[geoff1248]

Yippee so I gain a nanosecond or two on the lookup. Well worth the effort then😀.

[Saab Dastard]

I suggest that you google "benefits of openDNS" or similar to see what benefits may be obtained. There are several, including enhanced "family" filtering, additional protection from malicious websites, digital signing of DNS entries for security etc.

Of course not all will be pertinent to you, but there are many more reasons beyond mere speed.

BUT if you have a laptop which moves between networks then your ISP's server may not be accessible from another network - hence the value of using a public DNS server like Google. In that scenario you are likely to be using DHCP rather than static IP configuration, in which case the DNS server details should be passed by the DHCP options in the scope.

SD