As we all know, DNS is a very common server nowadays and is used worldwide.DNS stands for Domain Name System. It is a hierarchical distributed naming system for computers, services, or any resource connected to the Internet or a private network.
By providing a worldwide, distributed directory service, the Domain Name System is an essential component of the functionality on the Internet that has been in use since 1985. It associates various information with domain names assigned to each of the participating entities. It most prominently translates more readily memorized domain names into the numerical IP addresses needed for locating and identifying computer services and devices with the underlying network protocols.
DNS Server
A DNS server is the name given to an Internet service that facilitates domain name resolution, making it possible for people to use easy-to-remember addresses like www.google.com instead of hard-to-remember numeric IP addresses like Google’s actual address 74.125.224.72. A DNS server contains a database of mappings between domain names and IP addresses, which it uses when translating your request into the correct IP address needed to reach a site you are looking for.
Creating Your Own DNS Server
It is challenging to create your DNS server, primarily if you use Windows XP or Windows Vista operating systems, since they have their default built-in support for this feature.
If you are using Windows 7, some features available in earlier versions of windows, like the DNS server, are no longer available.
Before creating your own known as ‘Authoritative’ or ‘Primary’ DNS servers, you must make sure that there is already an Internet connection access to the machine on which you will create it (the one running this service). If not, either get an external connection or set up a local area network (LAN). Maybe if you don’t have internet access or A LAN, do not worry! You can still Create your DNS server and test it on your computer, but you will need some applications and command prompt tools.
Creating a DNS Server
1) Open the “Network Connections” window. To do that, go to the Control Panel, click Network and Internet, and choose Network and Sharing Center from the left column of the window (See Figure 1).
2) Next, click on either Local Area Connection or Wireless Network Connection (depending on which one is connected to the internet) under View your active networks section of the task panel.
3) A window will pop up showing all the components of this connection.
4) Right-click on “Local Area Connection” or “Wireless Network Connection” and choose Properties.
5) The properties window of your internet connection will now open. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4), then click on the “Properties button.”
6) Select Use the following DNS server address. If it is already selected (checked), then use the values provided by your ISP. Otherwise, you must enter the DNS Server Ip addresses manually.
7) Enter, in order from top to bottom, 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 (primary and/or secondary DNS), then hit Enter on your keyboard or click the “OK” button.
8) After entering the primary and secondary DNS server, close all windows and reboot your computer for changes to take effect.
The primary DNS servers reside at Google’s site, while the secondary is at 4.2.2.1, 2.2.2.1, 1.1.1.1, etc.
9) When done, just open the command prompt window and type ipconfig /all, then press enter on your keyboard or click the ”OK” button. You should now see values for DNS servers after the word ”Auto configuration”.
Note: If you put both primary and secondary DNS servers 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 at step 7, then you must wait for some time (about 30 minutes) so that your computer gets updated with all this new information before checking via command prompt.
This is because of the caching nature of our local area connection, which may not get updated immediately.
If you already have an internet connection running, or want to test your new DNS server on another computer within the same network, do not forget to put its address also while doing step 7.
10) The last thing you need to do is restart your router (if your internet connection comes from). Change takes effect after restarting the router (computer) only.
Conclusion
By now, you should be able to create your own primary or secondary DNS server successfully.
Just keep in mind that if there is no internet connection on your computer where you created this DNS server, then the values will just not change even/or you restart it—and they will remain grayed out. You can still create custom name servers for testing purposes but not for official use.
If Google’s primary and secondary addresses don’t work correctly, check whatismyipaddress.com for ipv4 settings. It might help resolve any problems with the lack of replies from the DNS server.
