What Happens if You Flush DNS on DNS Server?
When it comes to troubleshooting network issues, flushing the DNS cache is often one of the first steps recommended by experts. But what exactly happens when you flush the DNS on a DNS server? Let’s dive into the details and understand this process.
Understanding DNS
DNS stands for Domain Name System, and it is responsible for translating human-readable domain names (like www.example.com) into machine-readable IP addresses. This translation is necessary for devices to communicate with each other over the internet.
Every time you access a website or send an email, your device contacts a DNS server to resolve the domain name into an IP address. The resolved IP address is then used to establish a connection with the intended server.
The Purpose of Flushing DNS
Over time, your computer or network’s DNS cache can become outdated or corrupted. This can lead to issues like slow internet connection, inability to access certain websites, or even incorrect routing of network traffic.
The act of flushing DNS involves clearing this cache and forcing your device or local DNS resolver to request fresh information from the authoritative DNS servers. By doing so, you ensure that any outdated or incorrect entries are removed and replaced with accurate data.
Flushing DNS on a Windows Server
If you are working with a Windows server, you can flush the DNS cache using the Command Prompt:
- Step 1: Press Windows key + R, type cmd, and hit Enter to open Command Prompt.
- Step 2: In Command Prompt, type ipconfig /flushdns and press Enter.
- Step 3: Wait for the confirmation message that says “Successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache”.
Flushing DNS on a Linux Server
In a Linux environment, you can flush the DNS cache by using the Terminal:
- Step 1: Open Terminal.
- Step 2: Type sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager.service and press Enter.
- Note: The exact command may vary depending on your Linux distribution and network configuration.
The Effects of Flushing DNS
After flushing the DNS cache, your device or server will no longer have any locally cached DNS entries. Subsequently, it will start fresh by querying authoritative DNS servers for updated information whenever a domain name is requested.
This process may initially cause a slight delay while your device retrieves the new IP address information. However, this delay is usually minimal and temporary. Once the new DNS information is obtained, subsequent requests to the same domain should be faster since they are resolved using up-to-date data.
In conclusion,
If you encounter any network connectivity issues or suspect that your local DNS cache is causing problems, flushing the DNS can be an effective troubleshooting step. By discarding old and potentially incorrect entries, you give your device or server a clean slate to obtain accurate information from authoritative sources. Remember to follow the appropriate steps based on your operating system to ensure a successful flush of the DNS cache.
Happy troubleshooting!