Understanding DNS Basics

The Domain Name System (DNS) is a foundational technology that translates human-friendly domain names into numeric IP addresses that computers use to identify each other on the internet.

What is DNS?

DNS acts as the phonebook of the internet. When you type a domain name (e.g., example.com) into your browser, DNS translates it into an IP address (e.g., 93.184.216.34). Without DNS, users would have to remember numeric IP addresses instead of easy-to-remember domain names.

Key DNS Records

There are several types of DNS records, each serving a specific purpose:

• A Record: Maps a domain name to an IPv4 address.
• AAAA Record: Maps a domain name to an IPv6 address.
• CNAME Record: Alias that points to another domain name.
• MX Record: Specifies the mail server responsible for receiving email for a domain.
• TXT Record: Stores text information, often used for verification and security purposes (e.g., SPF, DKIM).
• NS Record: Indicates the authoritative name servers for a domain.

How DNS Propagation Works

When you change a DNS record, the update must propagate across multiple DNS servers globally. This process can take anywhere from a few minutes to 48 hours, depending on the Time-To-Live (TTL) setting.

Setting Up DNS with Raven

To point your domain to Raven, you'll need to update your A record at your domain registrar:

• A Record:
  • @ (root domain): 54.225.228.99
  • www: 54.225.228.99

Useful DNS Resources

• DNS Checker: Check global DNS propagation status (dnschecker.org).
• What's My DNS: Verify if DNS changes have propagated (whatsmydns.net).
• ICANN WHOIS Lookup: Inspect domain WHOIS information (lookup.icann.org).

For further assistance on DNS configuration or troubleshooting, please don't hesitate to contact Raven Support.