ITS

Domain Name System (DNS)

The Domain Name System (DNS) is the phonebook of the Internet. Humans access information online through domain names, like nytimes.com or espn.com. Web browsers interact through Internet Protocol (IP) addresses. DNS translates domain names to IP addresses so browsers can load Internet resources. Each device connected to the Internet has a unique IP address which other machines use to find the device. DNS servers eliminate the need for humans to memorize IP addresses such as 192.168.1.1 (in IPv4), or more complex newer alphanumeric IP addresses such as 2400:cb00:2048:1::c629:d7a2 (in IPv6). Domain Name System (DNS) is a foundational element of network and internet services at URI.  Most users will never encounter or need direct services or access to the DNS Server environment.

If you require additional information or are experiencing issues related to internet or network name resolution please contact the ITS Service desk for a technical consultation.