Introduction to DNS

Domain Name System (DNS) enables you to use hierarchical, friendly names to easily locate computers and other resources on an IP network. The following sections describe the basic DNS concepts, including features explained in newer Requests for Comments (RFCs), such as dynamic update, from the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). The Microsoft® Windows® 2000–specific implementation of DNS is not covered within this chapter, except where indicated.

For information about the Windows 2000 implementation of DNS, see "Windows 2000 DNS" in this book.

DNS is a distributed database that contains mappings of DNS domain names to data. It is also a protocol for Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) networks, defined by the Requests for Comments (RFCs) that pertain to DNS. DNS defines the following:

Mechanism for querying and updating the database.
Mechanism for replicating the information in the database among servers.
Schema for the database.

In This Chapter

Introduction to the Domain Name System

DNS Servers

Name Resolution

Resource Records and Zones

Zone Transfer

Dynamic Update

DNS Standards

Related Information in the Resource Kit

For more information about TCP/IP protocols, see "Introduction to TCP/IP" in this book.
For information about the Windows 2000 implementation of DNS, see "Windows 2000 DNS" in this book.