DNS Management: Optimising Speed for Global Audience

While searching for a web hosting company, you have likely encountered DNS management as a key feature. But what exactly is DNS? How does it differ from DNS management? And most importantly, can it impact your website's speed? These are crucial questions we're here to answer, shedding light on the significance of DNS management for your website's global performance.

What is a DNS?

When you type “ www.hostsailor.com” into your browser, the home page you see doesn’t appear by magic. Your browser reads the domain name you type, translates it to an IP address, which connects to the domain server and loads it. This is called a Domain Name System (DNS), and it handles all domain searches behind the scenes. On the other hand, the process that allows you to control your DNS is DNS management.

What is DNS management?

It refers to the tool or the control panel you use to control your DNS server, allowing you to manage DNS records, control your domain IP address, add and remove records, update DNS zones, etc.

How does DNS Work?

DNS depends on records to forward your search query to the correct destination. These records are usually divided into different types according to the aim of the search. A few of the top records you will definitely use while setting up your DNS settings include an A record, A nameserver, MX records, and CName records.

1. An A Record is the record that translates your website's domain name to an IP address.
2. Nameservers refer to the servers that hold all the DNS records for your website.
3. A MX record is the record used to direct an email to an email server. Email services for the same domain don’t have to be hosted on the same website server.
4. Finally, A CName record allows an alias or a subdomain to point to the main domain.

When you type a query in your browser, depending on your aim, your DNS records will send you to the correct destination after reading one of the abovementioned records.

For example, if you type “hostsailor.com” on your computer, your computer contacts a nameserver for DNS records. The server checks its DNS records, searching for the correct A record for the website to identify the IP address. The IP address is then sent to your computer to connect directly to the authoritative server hosting the website and load it.

On the other hand, if you write “www.hostsailor.com”, the server checks your CName records, which show that the “ www” version of the website is simply an alias for the same website, so it translates your destination to the main website” Hostsailor” website, then searches for the A record of that website to identify the IP address within the server and load the website.

You need a good management service to control your A records, IP addresses, CName records, etc. However, who exactly offers these services?

DNS Management Service Providers

1. Web Hosting Service Providers: Most web hosting companies like GoDaddy and Hostsailor offer a control panel to control DNS settings, and they are usually easy to understand. These tools provide a user-friendly interface, making optimising your website easier.

1. Dedicated DNS Management Service: Services like Cloudflare or Google Domains usually offer more advanced DNS features, including additional benefits like security enhancements.

The Benefits of DNS Management

Effectively managing your DNS can significantly improve your website's functionality and user experience. DNS management is more than just a technical process. It empowers you to:

• Switch web hosting services easily.
• Implement security measures to protect your website.
• Enhance website performance and speed.

Can DNS Management Optimise Website Speed?

For websites with a global audience, Optimizing your site speed is not just a good idea; it's essential. Your website’s speed can directly impact your traffic and user experience, and you can significantly improve it by following a few DNS performance optimisation tricks.

1. Use a Reliable DNS Provider: Choosing a DNS service provider that offers you multiple servers worldwide should be your top priority to ensure fast response time from the website.

1. Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN): Most CDNs have geographically distributed servers that store your website content as copies in multiple locations. Therefore, when a user from a specific region accesses your website, the CDN delivers the content from a nearby server, reducing latency and improving website speed for your global audience.

1. Setup DNS Caching: DNS caching can help store the data locally after a user visits the website. This means that when a user revisits your website, their browser doesn't need to go through the entire DNS lookup process again, resulting in faster load times and improved speed.

FAQs

1. What is an AAA Record?

An AAA Record is the DNS record that points your search to an IPV6 Address for new websites. Most websites have an IPV4 address; however, as the number of IPV4 addresses decreased over the years, IPV6 was introduced as a newer solution with more addresses.

1. What is TTL?

TTL refers to time to live, and it usually refers to how long the CDN and DNS records for your website should remain cached. It is one of the things you would have to utilise if you want your website to load faster for customers.

By understanding DNS and its management, you can ensure a smooth and efficient online experience for your website visitors.