Maybe you have had to stare too much time at a message the fact that says “ Looking upward http: //www. mywebsite. com... ” about the status bar of your browser while awaiting a page to insert? The browser eventually gives up and spits out an error message. You’ ve already shelled out a small fortune for your digital advertiser line (DSL) connection, what exactly gives?
If this sounds familiar, there’ s a quick fix that will in all probability speed up your exploring and protect you via some Internet scams to boot. It will work if you’ re on a DSL or perhaps a dial-up connection and even if you’ re on Home windows, Mac OS, Unix or even Linux. And the best part is, it’ s free of charge.
The solution is labeled OpenDNS and here’ utes how it works.
Occasionally, sluggish Internet access has nothing to do with the speed of your connection but the time it takes your computer to obtain the right Web site.
The Internet uses the Domain name System (DNS) to keep an eye on where— out of an incredible number of connected servers— the Web site you need to visit is stored.
An Internet or IP address is stored like a unique group of five numbers separated by instances. For example, the IP tackle of Yahoo is 209. 131. thirty six. 158. You can type this unique number into your browser and it will take you to the Askjeeve portal. Of course, unless of course you’ re a mathematics savant, it’ s easier to remember “
www. yahoo. com” than a lot of numbers.
The job of identical the numbers with human-readable domains like “ yahoo. com” is performed by DNS caching machines, computers that contain areas of a huge, constantly altering database of names plus numbers. This is no mean feat, considering you will find billions of IP covers, most of which possess matching names, and billions of requests for this advice.
Typically, when you type a website name into a browser, your pc tries to obtain its IP address in the DNS caching server of your Internet service provider. If that information can be obtained, your browser takes you to the web site. But if the correct isn’ t on your service provider’ s DNS caching server, it'll send your request onto another name server that may have what you need— which takes time.
Sometimes, as well, your service provider’ s name server may be slow or overloaded. This certainly appears to be the case with PLDT’ utes myDSL service, which has given me a great number of DNS errors.
All these delays can accumulate when you’ re typing in countless DNS queries a time of day.
OpenDNS speeds up address lookups by maintaining in fact fast name servers regarding major Internet hubs. To make the most of this network, all you have to do is point your computer straight to the OpenDNS servers.
On Windows xp, you can do this when you go to the Control Panel from the start menu and choosing Circle Connections. Select the current connection and click on the Properties button. In the window underneath the phrase “ This connection uses the next items: ”, highlight Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and click the Properties button again. Click the radio button that says “ Use the following DNS server addresses: ” as well as enter 208. 67. 222. 222 since the preferred DNS server as well as 208. 67. 220. 220 since the alternate DNS server. After that click OK.
On Macintosh OS X, select System Preferences in the Apple menu, click System, choose the active connection and click the Configure button. Highlight the TCP/IP tab and enter both OpenDNS IP addresses (same as above) within the “ DNS Servers” window (hit the Return key following the first address). Click the actual Apply Now button.
More detailed and illustrated instructions, including the ones that cover Unix, Linux along with other versions of Windows, are available on the OpenDNS Site. There are also instructions on how to setup wireless routers to apply OpenDNS.
Aside from speed, OpenDNS has two additional benefits. First, it blocks phishing sites or fraudulent Webpages set up to tip users into providing personal information under false pretenses. 2nd, OpenDNS will correct small typing errors. For instance, typing “ ww. search engines. com” or “
www. google. co” will still get you to Google. It’ s simple to remove OpenDNS if no more wish to use it all. Just delete the two IP addresses you typed and you’ re to your old setup. I’ ve been using OpenDNS for some time and have found no reason to remove it. In fact, it seems to have solved many of my personal DNS-related problems.
Although OpenDNS is free to everyone, the company that carries on it hopes to turn a profit by selling ads for search result pages which will show up when the domain entered will not be valid and not a good typo it recognizes. As the company says it may charge for extra services afterwards, speedy, reliable DNS will be free. That sounds good in my experience.
