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| In ], a '''name server''' (also called 'nameserver') consists of a program or computer ] that implements a ] ]. It will normally ] (i.e. connect) a ''human-recognisable'' identifier of a ] (for example, the ] 'en.wikipedia.org') to its ''computer-recognisable'' identifier (such as the ] (IP) ] 145.97.39.155), and vice versa.<ref name="techterms"> | In ], a '''name server''' (also called '''nameserver''' or '''DNS server''') consists of a program or computer ] that implements a ] ]. It will normally ] (i.e. connect) a ''human-recognisable'' identifier of a ] (for example, the ] 'en.wikipedia.org') to its ''computer-recognisable'' identifier (such as the ] (IP) ] 145.97.39.155), and vice versa.<ref name="techterms"> | ||
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| cite web|title=Name Server definition at techterms.com|url=http://www.techterms.com/definition/nameserver | cite web|title=Name Server definition at techterms.com|url=http://www.techterms.com/definition/nameserver | ||
Revision as of 13:16, 9 April 2009
In computing, a name server (also called nameserver or DNS server) consists of a program or computer server that implements a name-service protocol. It will normally map (i.e. connect) a human-recognisable identifier of a host (for example, the domain name 'en.wikipedia.org') to its computer-recognisable identifier (such as the Internet Protocol (IP) address 145.97.39.155), and vice versa.
Domain Name System
Internet name servers implement the Domain Name System (DNS) protocol. Name servers also exist on some Microsoft Windows networks where one host can take the role of NetBIOS Master Browser and act as a NBNS server. Small local networks of Windows systems require no central name server, and generally perform name-resolution using broadcasts.
A domain name server is a server that governs the DNS records, such as A (host) records, CNAME (aliases) records, and MX (mail exchange) records for a domain name.
Primary and secondary nameservers
Every domain name must have a primary nameserver (eg. ns1.domainname.com), and at least one secondary nameserver (ns2.domainname.com etc). This requirement aims to make the domain still reachable even if one nameserver becomes inaccessible.
Authoritative name server
An authoritative name server is a name server that can give an authoritative answer to a DNS query, and not just a cached answer that was given by another name server. All primary and secondary name servers give authoritative answers, as can certain other "shadow" name servers.
See also
- Comparison of DNS server software
- Directory service
- DNS Security Extensions (DNSSEC)
- Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP)
- nscd, a name-service caching daemon
- Name Service Switch (NSS)
- Network Information Service (NIS)
- resolver, resolv.conf, resolvconf for Unix/Linux
- root nameserver
External links
References
- ^ "Name Server definition at techterms.com". Cite error: The named reference "techterms" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- nscd(8): name service cache daemon - Linux man page
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