Tag: Server

DNS: Navigating the Internet’s Address Book

Have you ever wondered how your web browser magically knows where to find the websites you want to visit? How does it manage to locate the exact server that holds the website you’re looking for? What about when you can’t access web pages? Is this due to your Internet being down, or is it really a DNS issue? What is DNS anyway, and what does it do? We’re going to unravel the mystery of DNS and servers, and shed light on how they work hand in hand to bring you the online content you crave.

DNS – The Internet’s Address Book 

When you enter a website address (URL) into your web browser, such as “www.example.com,” a remarkable technology called DNS (Domain Name System) comes into play. DNS acts as the internet’s address book, translating human-friendly domain names into the corresponding IP addresses, which servers use to identify each other on the network.

Servers – The Hosts of Online Content 

Servers are powerful computers specially designed to store and manage information, serving as the hosts for websites and online content. They are like libraries, holding the website’s files, images, videos, and other data, and delivering them to your web browser upon request.

The Collaboration between DNS and Servers

DNS and servers work together harmoniously to make the internet accessible and user-friendly. DNS acts as the internet’s address translator, converting domain names into IP addresses, while servers store and deliver the website’s content. Let’s follow the journey of your web browser as it navigates the collaboration between DNS and servers to fetch the desired content:

  1. You enter a website address into your web browser, triggering a DNS lookup request. For example, let’s use “www.cloudflare.com.”
  2. The DNS resolver, acting as your browser’s librarian, receives the request and checks its cache for the corresponding IP address. If the IP address is found, the resolver provides it to your browser, skipping the need for further DNS lookups.
  3. If the IP address is not in the cache, the resolver contacts DNS servers to find the answer. The resolver starts by querying a root DNS server, which leads to the discovery of the authoritative DNS server responsible for the requested domain.
  4. The authoritative DNS server holds the official record of the domain’s IP address. The resolver contacts this server, retrieves the IP address, and shares it with your browser.
  5. Armed with the IP address, your browser establishes a connection with the server hosting the website. It’s like your browser knocking on the server’s door, requesting the content you desire.
  6. The server, upon receiving the request, retrieves the website’s files and data, and sends them back to your browser.
  7. Your web browser receives the content and starts rendering it, displaying the website on your screen.

Internet Connection Issues or DNS?

Have you ever encountered a situation where you couldn’t access websites? Maybe it’s all sites you’ve tried, or just certain ones. In any case, there’s an easy way to determine if the issue is your Internet connection or something to do with the DNS settings. 

Part 1: Identifying Internet Connection Problems

When you find yourself unable to access websites, the first step is to determine whether it’s an issue with your internet connection or a DNS-related problem. Here’s a simple method to help you figure it out:

  1. Open your web browser and try visiting a website you frequently access. If the page doesn’t load or displays an error message, it could indicate an internet connection problem.
  2. Check other online services like email or messaging apps. If they are also not working, it’s likely an issue with your internet connection.
  3. Confirm the status of your internet connection by checking if other devices in your home or office are experiencing similar difficulties. If multiple devices are affected, the problem is likely with your internet connection.

Part 2: Testing for DNS Issues

To determine if the problem lies specifically with DNS, you can perform a simple test using the IP address “1.1.1.1” (a popular DNS resolver). Here’s how to do it:

  1. Open your web browser and type “1.1.1.1” in the address bar.
  2. Press Enter and wait for the page to load. If it successfully opens, it indicates that the DNS is likely the culprit behind the access issues.
  3. However, if you encounter an error or the page doesn’t load, it suggests a broader internet connectivity problem rather than a DNS issue.

Part 3: Changing DNS Settings on Your Router

If the test with “1.1.1.1” confirmed a DNS problem, you can resolve it by changing your DNS settings. This is a permanent change, though you can always adjust again later should something change with your network. It’s advisable to make the DNS changes on your router so that all devices connecting through it benefit from the updated settings. Here’s a general guide:

  1. Access your router’s configuration page by typing its IP address (usually something like “192.168.0.1” or “192.168.1.1”) into your web browser’s address bar.
  2. Log in to the router using your username and password. If you don’t know the credentials, refer to the router’s manual or contact your internet service provider.
  3. Locate the DNS settings in the router’s configuration interface. It may be under a section like “Network,” “Internet,” or “DNS.”
  4. Replace the existing DNS server addresses with the new ones you wish to use. Popular public DNS servers include “1.1.1.1,” “8.8.8.8,” and “9.9.9.9.”
  5. Save the changes and restart your router. This ensures the new DNS settings take effect.

Understanding DNS

In the vast online world, where websites are just a click away, it’s important to understand the fundamental roles of DNS and servers in making the internet accessible. DNS acts as the internet’s address translator, converting domain names into IP addresses, while servers store and deliver the website’s content to your web browser. However, there are times when you may encounter difficulties accessing websites, and it becomes crucial to identify whether it’s an internet connection problem or a DNS issue. Knowing how to troubleshoot these issues can save you time and prevent further frustration. So, whether you’re exploring new websites, accessing information, or enjoying online experiences, the seamless interaction between DNS, servers, and your internet connection ensures a smooth and enjoyable online journey.

By 5G , , , , ,

What is SpeedFusion Connect Relay from Peplink?

If you have a WAN connection at your home that you wish you could use while you’re traveling, then Peplink’s SpeedFusion Connect Relay is the solution. As long as your hardware is running firmware 8.2 or higher, this allows you to connect your mobile Peplink router to your home Peplink router and use its Internet connection to connect to the Internet. This essentially makes it look like you’re at home rather than connected through the mobile network or VPN connection you’re using. So, it might allow you to connect to things like streaming services more easily.

To learn how to set this up on your own, check out our video at YouTube. You may also follow the steps below. 

Configuring the Relay Server

Start by connecting to and logging into your home router. This will act as the Relay server in the connection. We’ll be using a Peplink MAX BR1 Mini in our example. 

Navigate to the SpeedFusion Connect tab. Click on setup relay mode. A new screen should appear. Click where it says cloud location and select the location closest to your home. 

When done, click on the green checkmark to the right, followed by the apply changes button at the top right. 

Once applied, your SpeedFusion connect name will appear with a relay sharing code to the right. Copy this and then apply the changes before moving on. 

Configuring the Relay Client

Now that we have configured the server connection, we’re going to log into the client router. In this case we will be using a Peplink Balance 20X.

Navigate to the SpeedFusion Connect tab. Select choose cloud location and a new screen will appear. Refer to cloud location here and click where you see the blank field. A drop down should appear. Select home sharing and then paste in the code you copied from the server router. Click the green checkmark to the right, followed by apply changes at the top right. 

Navigate back to the Dashboard to check the status of the changes. Once applied, we will see the SpeedFusion connection appear. Wait while it cycles through the connection process. After a moment, it should say established. 

Routing All Traffic Over the SpeedFusion Relay

At this time, we need to configure the client router to send all traffic over our newly connected Speed Fusion relay. Navigate to the network tab, although for some Peplink routers, this will be under the advanced tab. Select Outbound Policy on the left. Click on Add rule here. 

Give the custom rule a unique name such as SpeedFusion Relay. Confirm the enable checkbox is checked. Source and Destination should be set to Any. Set the algorithm to priority and then drag and drop your SpeedFusion connection into the WAN list. It should be positioned at the top of the list so that all traffic routes over this connection first. If this fails for some reason, it will fail over to the WAN connection or connections you have in place. 

Leave the remaining settings as is. Click save, then apply changes. We’ll then go back to the Dashboard page again to confirm changes are applied and our SpeedFusion is still established. 

Checking the Connection

We can also check the connection at the server router and then verify our configuration is working. Once logged back into the server router, first verify the Speed Fusion connection shows it is established here with 1 out of 1 relay clients. Note that additional client connections can be purchased if needed. 

At the client router’s web admin page, navigate to the status tab and click on client list. This is where we can confirm the IP address our computer is receiving from the router’s private network. Now that we’ve noted this, we’ll go to active sessions on the left. Click on the search tab at the top of this page and then scroll through the outbound sessions list. This is where it tells us which Internet or WAN service our computer is connecting to the Internet over. As we can see here, it shows our SpeedFusion relay connection, which confirms our configuration is working correctly. 

If you have more questions, or you’re interested in purchasing additional relay connections, contact our team by phone, email, or chat!

By 5G , , , , , , , ,