What is Root Server DNS? Simply explained in 3 minutes

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If you are interested in the topic Online Marketing and especially SEO, you can't avoid these terms. But don't worry, I'll be happy to explain them to you in detail.

What is a root server?

A root server is a central component of the Domain Name System (DNS), which has the task of forwarding queries for specific domains to the correct IP addresses. More precisely, a root server is a DNS server in the highest hierarchy level of the DNS.

The DNS is basically like the Internet's phone book. It associates domain names such as "example.com" with the corresponding IP addresses so that your Browser knows which computer to send the request to in order to load the desired web page.

How does the root server work?

The DNS works hierarchically. At the beginning of the hierarchy are the so-called root servers. These are a total of 13 servers worldwide, 10 of which are located in the USA. These root servers manage the distribution of the other DNS entries and are, so to speak, the heads from which everything starts.

For example, if you want to access a website like "example.com", your computer first asks the nearest DNS server, which in turn requests the information from the corresponding root server if it has not already stored it in its cache.

Basically, there is then a step-by-step descent through the DNS hierarchy: top-level domain, second-level domain, Subdomainetc. Until the IP address of the desired website is finally found and the connection can be established.

What is the root server used for?

The root server plays a central role in the current global DNS system. It ensures stability and protection against attacks on this global system. All DNS queries ultimately start at one of the 13 root servers. Therefore, it is extremely important that these servers function smoothly and are fail-safe.

Here are the main features of the root server:

Monitoring, control and forwarding of DNS requests
Delegation of requests to the appropriate nameserver of the top-level domains (TLDs)
Retention of the central root zone files
Updates and restarts of the root server

The ability of a Root Server DNS process requests quickly and efficiently plays an important role in the overall performance and availability of the Internet.

Summary

The Root Server DNS are at the top of the DNS hierarchy. They are responsible for forwarding DNS requests and making sure that your Browser finds the IP address of the desired website. Since they are the foundation of the global DNS system, it is of utmost importance that these servers work efficiently and are fail-safe.

I hope you now have a better understanding of what a Root Server DNS and what functions it fulfills. If you are looking for more information on this topic, feel free to check out our Online Marketing Magazine over.

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FAQ

What is a root server DNS?

Root Server DNS is a computer that is responsible for managing and forwarding requests to the correct domains.

How many root server DNS are there in the world?

there are a total of 13 root server DNS, which are distributed over geographically different locations.

What are the tasks of a root server DNS?

The main task is to supply the IP addresses for the top-level domains (TLDs) and to forward DNS requests to the corresponding TLD name servers.

What are the advantages of root server DNS?

Server DNS provide fast and reliable DNS resolution, are instrumental in the stability of the Internet, and can withstand DDoS attacks.

Who operates the root server DNS?

Responsibility for the operation of each root server DNS lies with various organizations, including Verisign, the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA), and the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).

How do DNS servers communicate with the root server DNS?

-servers use hierarchical queries, where they contact the root server DNS to obtain information about domain names that they cannot resolve themselves.

Will the number of root server DNS increase or decrease in the future?

Number of root server DNS is not expected to be increased or decreased in the near future, as they need to maintain constant and stable operation.

Why are the locations of the root server DNS geographically distributed?

geographic distribution of root server DNS ensures increased availability and resilience against physical disruptions or catastrophic events that could interrupt Internet traffic.

Can root servers have DNS failures?

Although the root server DNSs are reduntant and robust, they may occasionally experience outages due to maintenance or technical problems. In such cases, other root server DNSs can take over.

Why should we be interested in running our own root server DNS?

Operating your own root server DNS is usually not required, since DNS queries are usually handled by local providers or public DNS services.

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Niels Stuck

Niels Stuck has 10 years of SEO experience and is the founder of the SEO agency "WOLF OF SEO". He gained practical experience by building 20+ affiliate sites alongside his marketing studies. Finally, he wrote his bachelor thesis about the influence of SEO on Google rankings, traffic and sales development in the form of a case study. Today, he specializes in e-commerce SEO and helps more than 80 companies build a sustainable organic revenue channel through SEO. Niels advises startups, established brands and corporations in search engine optimization of their online stores and primarily focuses on data-based content strategies and link building. He shares his knowledge about SEO and online marketing in this blog, as a speaker at conferences, in podcasts and as a guest author for OMT, Forbes, Starting Up and many more platforms.

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