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OpenDNS: dns that everyone can use

DNS is an transparent internet service that translates all the dot com’s or domain names of the world into IP addresses, meaningful addresses that computers can understand. This translation can best be described as those 800 phone numbers you hear from infomercials late at night. A SmooveNET advertiser might say to call “1-800-SMOOVE1” (fake number by the way) to get cheap web hosting, which he really meant for you to call 1-800-766-6831.

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Many people think that you must use DNS servers provided by their ISP. In fact, you can use any publicly available DNS server out there. It’s just a matter of reconfiguring your router or computer to point to these servers.

An August 16, 2006, report from CNET suggest that many DNS servers provided by internet providers are slow and aren’t very good. Comcast customers can probably tell you that this article is somewhat true.

So where do we find these public DNS servers? Well, a fairly new service from a group called OpenDNS is trying to redefine DNS with its service offerings. It claims to provide a safer, faster, and smarter DNS. They recently served over 4 billion DNS queries, which means that a lot of people are using their service on a daily basis.

The best way to learn about this service is by going to their get started page and learn how to change your computer or internet router’s configuration.

Another use for this service, if you care not to use it as your primary DNS server, is to use this service when you’re in the middle of a server move and your current DNS servers are caching the site’s old IP address. This will allow you to immediately have access to your web site without having to wait for your DNS servers to update.

Posted by Chris Erice on 1 October 2006

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