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Guide on DNS for CompTIA A+ Exam

Importance of DNS
DNS (Domain Name System) is crucial for internet functionality. It acts as the internet's phonebook, converting human-friendly website names into machine-friendly IP addresses. Without DNS, you'd have to remember the exact IP address of each site you wish to visit.

What is DNS?
DNS stands for Domain Name System. It is a hierarchical naming system developed for computers, services, or any resource connected to the Internet or a private network. Essentially, it translates a domain name that is easy for humans to understand into an IP address that a computer can understand.

How DNS works
When you type a web address (like 'www.google.com'), your Internet Service Provider views the DNS associated with the domain name, translates it into a machine-friendly IP address (like 192.168.1.1), and directs your internet connection to the correct website.

Exam Tips: Answering Questions on DNS

  1. Understand the basic function: Remember, DNS translates human-readable domain names into machine-readable IP addresses.
  2. Know the process: Understanding how DNS queries are carried out is important. It’s not enough just to know what DNS is; you must know how it works.
  3. Understand DNS records: Various DNS records, like A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, PTR, NS, SOA, SRV, TXT, are a common topic in question scenarios. Know what they are and what they are used for.
  4. Know differences between forward and reverse DNS lookups: This is a commonly tested area.

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DNS practice test

Domain Name System (DNS) is the internet's equivalent to a phone book, translating human-readable domain names to IP addresses used by devices for communication. When a user enters a web address in a browser, a DNS query is sent to the DNS server to resolve the domain name into an IP address. The DNS server responds with the corresponding IP address, enabling the browser to establish a connection and load the website. DNS plays a vital role in simplifying the browsing experience by relieving users from memorizing numerical IP addresses. Also, websites can change their IP addresses without affecting the domain name, allowing uninterrupted access to the content.

Time: 5 minutes   Questions: 5

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CompTIA A+ Preparation Package (2024)

  • 4902 Superior-grade CompTIA A+ practice questions.
  • Accelerated Mastery: Deep dive into critical topics to fast-track your mastery.
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  • Risk-Free Decision: Start with a 7-day free trial - get premium features at no cost!