What Is Subnet Mask and DNS Server?

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Heather Bennett

What Is Subnet Mask and DNS Server?

When it comes to networking, two crucial elements that play a significant role are subnet masks and DNS servers. Understanding these concepts is essential for anyone working with computer networks. In this article, we will delve into what subnet masks and DNS servers are and how they function.

Subnet Mask

A subnet mask is a 32-bit number that serves as a filter for an IP address. It helps determine the network portion and the host portion of an IP address. The subnet mask is applied to the IP address to divide it into network and host addresses.

The subnet mask consists of four octets, each represented by eight bits, separated by periods. For example, 255.255.0 is a commonly used subnet mask.

How Subnet Mask Works

The subnet mask uses binary logic to divide the IP address into network and host addresses. It does this by performing a bitwise AND operation between the IP address and the subnet mask.

Each bit in the subnet mask represents whether that corresponding bit in the IP address belongs to the network or host portion. If the bit in the subnet mask is set to 1, it means that bit in the IP address belongs to the network portion.

  • Network Portion: The network portion of an IP address identifies which network it belongs to.
  • Host Portion: The host portion of an IP address identifies a specific device within that network.

The use of a subnet mask allows for efficient routing of data packets within a network by determining which devices are connected on the same local area network (LAN).

DNS Server

DNS stands for Domain Name System. It is a system that translates human-readable domain names into IP addresses. DNS servers are responsible for resolving domain names to their corresponding IP addresses.

When you enter a website’s URL in your web browser, the DNS server is queried to find the IP address associated with that domain name. The DNS server then returns the IP address, allowing your browser to establish a connection with the website’s server.

How DNS Server Works

The DNS server operates on a hierarchical structure. When your computer queries a DNS server to resolve a domain name, it first checks its local cache. If the IP address is not found in the cache, it sends a request to the root DNS servers.

The root DNS servers direct the query to the appropriate top-level domain (TLD) server based on the domain extension (.com, .org, .net, etc.). The TLD server then directs the query to the authoritative name servers responsible for that specific domain.

  • Authoritative Name Servers: These servers hold information about specific domains and their corresponding IP addresses.

The authoritative name server responds with the IP address of the requested domain, which is then returned to your computer’s DNS resolver and cached for future use.

Conclusion

In conclusion, subnet masks and DNS servers are vital components of computer networks. Subnet masks divide an IP address into network and host portions, enabling efficient routing of data packets within a network.

DNS servers translate human-readable domain names into IP addresses, allowing us to access websites through memorable URLs. Understanding these concepts is crucial for network administrators and anyone working with networking technologies.

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