Hi everyone. I'm trying to locate the DNS, but I'm not sure where it's located.



Let's say I type in google.com into my browser. What happens next? Well, if it's not in the cache, first the request goes to the root servers, then to .com, and only then to Google. This process is done by a DNS server which translates domain names into IP addresses. But the question remains, where is this DNS server located? Is it embedded in the browser, the Windows operating system, the home router, the router router, or somewhere else entirely?
In other words, where can I find the program responsible for performing this translation?

The DNS server's network address can be manually specified or automatically configured via DHCP. When auto-configured, the provider's DNS server is used to save requests from being sent to external servers.

Although anyone can raise a DNS server, the implementation of DNS at a global level involves 13 root servers responsible for the root zone. These servers are managed by different organizations and ensure the smooth operation of the Internet. The root servers were traditionally located in North America, but there are now 123 scattered worldwide for increased reliability. The DNS servers are distributed according to the intensity of internet infrastructure usage.

The location of a DNS server can vary greatly, from being in someone's home like the server for a personal domain, to being in a datacenter in Paris for something like the .fr zone.

DNS is organized hierarchically, with 15 or 16 root servers at the top. These root servers are equal and refer to zone servers which then refer to domain servers and so on.

There are two types of DNS servers: authoritative and caching/recursive. Authoritative servers only serve requests for domains they own, while caching/recursive servers respond to user requests by polling authoritative servers until receiving a response.

Caching/recursive servers can form a chain, starting with the server embedded in a router, followed by provider DNS servers that poll root servers responsible for first-level zones. From there, DNS servers responsible for corresponding second-level zones are polled until an IP address or error is received. Third-level DNS servers may also be involved.

Root servers are located in large data centers or on the sites of Internet regulatory organizations, while second-level DNS servers are typically hosted in data centers belonging to service providers, hosts, or companies to which the domain name belongs.

DNS servers operate as a hierarchical network, with 13 root servers at the top responsible for specific domain name zones. Intermediate servers exist at lower levels, and it is essential that the root DNS servers remain operational to avoid inaccessibility for countless addresses.

When a user enters a domain name in a browser address bar, the request goes through various DNS servers until the IP address of the desired site is returned. Local name converters may cache previous requests to speed up the process. The IP address is ultimately stored only on DNS servers at the last level, which are registered for the specific domain or subdomain.

It is necessary to register DNS servers on both the domain side and the user's side. The purpose of these actions differs for each side.

DNS servers are registered for a domain to establish a connection between the IP address of the device that hosts the site and its domain name, enabling users to access the site. You can leave the domain name converter assignment to the provider's server or register public servers for reliability. DNS servers are distributed globally, physically located in data centers, hosting providers, and large telecom operators based on the density of internet users and incoming requests.

DNS servers store links between domain names and IP addresses, along with additional records called resource records, which belong to the same DNS zone. DNS servers are vulnerable to DDoS attacks and system vulnerabilities, but server owners continuously improve protections against hacker attacks by using techniques such as packet inspection, cryptographic keys, and DNS validators.

The DNS server responsible for translating domain names into IP addresses is not typically embedded in the browser, operating system, or home router. Instead, it is a separate server maintained by your internet service provider (ISP) or a third-party DNS provider. The DNS server information is usually configured on your home router or your computer's network settings.

In addition to the DNS server maintained by your ISP or a third-party DNS provider, there are also other layers of DNS servers involved in the translation process.

When you type a domain name like google.com into your browser, the first DNS server that your request goes to is often your local DNS resolver. This resolver is typically provided by your ISP and is configured on your home router or your computer's network settings.

If the local DNS resolver doesn't have the IP address for the requested domain name in its cache, it then forwards the request to a root DNS server. The root DNS server responds with the IP address of the top-level domain (TLD) DNS server responsible for the specific TLD, such as .com.

The local DNS resolver then contacts the TLD DNS server, which responds with the IP address of the authoritative DNS server for the requested domain, in this case, Google's DNS server.

Finally, your local DNS resolver receives the IP address for the domain name from the authoritative DNS server and returns it to your browser. Your browser can now establish a connection with the appropriate server to load the webpage.

Let's dive deeper into the DNS infrastructure and various components involved in the translation process.

The DNS system is hierarchical, consisting of multiple layers of servers. These servers work together to translate domain names into IP addresses. Here is a breakdown of the key components:

1. Recursive DNS Resolver: This is the first stop for your DNS request. It is typically provided by your ISP or a third-party DNS provider. The resolver performs the query on your behalf and handles communication with other DNS servers to find the IP address for the requested domain.

2. Root DNS Servers: These servers form the top layer of the DNS hierarchy. They have information about the top-level domains (TLDs), such as .com, .org, .net, etc. There are 13 root DNS servers globally, distributed across different locations.

3. TLD DNS Servers: These servers maintain information about the specific TLDs. For example, the .com TLD server has information about domain names ending with .com. When the recursive resolver receives a response from a root server, it will then query the appropriate TLD server.

4. Authoritative DNS Servers: These servers hold the most specific information about domain names. They are responsible for storing the IP addresses associated with specific domain names. For instance, Google's authoritative DNS server stores information about the IP addresses for google.com.

The DNS server responsible for performing the translation you described (e.g., converting google.com to an IP address) is primarily the recursive DNS resolver, which is configured on your home router or computer's network settings. It is not embedded in the browser, operating system, or home router itself.

To summarize, the DNS translation process involves multiple layers of DNS servers, with the recursive DNS resolver being the primary component responsible for performing the translation.

The DNS resolver isn't baked into the browser or OS alone - it's mostly handled by your OS's stub resolver, which queries your configured recursive DNS server, often your ISP's resolver or a public DNS like Google's 8.8.8.8. That recursive server does the heavy lifting - root hints, TLD lookups, caching.
Your home router often just forwards DNS queries without resolving them. So the real magic happens server-side, not inside your machine or router firmware.