Which DNS Server?

[enjay]

Our network is set up to have clients use the DC server as a DNS server, and the DC server then uses pre-defined upstream DNS servers. The problem we have with this is that BT Business seem to like to move their DNS servers around meaning that what is best for us today might not be best next month. So I'm thinking that a good solution would be to specify our gateway router (provided by BT) as a DNS server instead. Is that a good idea or am I missing something?

[jamesreedersmith]

Use googles 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4

[JJonas]

DNS Nameserver Performance Benchmark?

 

GRC's*|*DNS Nameserver Performance Benchmark**

[mac_shinobi]

DNS Nameserver Performance Benchmark?

 

GRC's*|*DNS Nameserver Performance Benchmark**

 

Is there something like this but for OS X, also just wondering how open dns compares to google dns ?

[Michael]

I've used both Open DNS and Google DNS. Performance is about the same, however I do use Open DNS at home.

[plexer]

Where are you setting these pre-defined upstream servers?

Not on the servers nic I hope?

 

Should be set in dns forwaders in the dns mmc.

 

Ben

[enjay]

Should be set in dns forwaders in the dns mmc.

 

That's where I am setting them, but we've had to change them twice in the last 3 months in order to improve Internet performance, hence me looking at other DNS servers.

 

So, basically what people are saying is that there is no real reason not to use a non-ISP DNS server?

[EduTech]

Set your DNS forwarders as Google or OpenDNS and maybe place your BT DNS Entries in their also but put the former as priority. You won't have any problems with doing this.

 

James.

[Kyuki]

I agree with the others. use GoogleDNS or OpenDNS servers.

[Duke5A]

We're in this boat too; Google DNS gets priority with our ISD provided DNS servers in the bottom of the list. It works great...

[Arthur]

Is there something like this but for OS X

NameBench

[enjay]

[conspiracy_mode]You can tell me I'm making this up, but I'm sure that microsoft.com and live.com pages take a lot longer to open since moving to Google DNS servers....[/conspiracy_mode]

[cpjitservices]

we use 8.8.8.8 and if that fails we use 4.2.2.2 (Level 3)

[Geoff]

Personally at home I've switch to OpenNIC DNS servers.

[SchoolsBroadband]

agreed google or open dns are great

[SYNACK]

Yeap, fine to use these external services as fowrders but make sure that the clients themselves still point directly at the DC as this handles all your internal DNS as well.

 

There are considerations around the uptream services messing with results or speeds as hinted to by enjay as each service will have its own priorities, we use 8.8.8.8 as a fallback for our servers with local ISP DNS servers which thankfully stay put but can have their issues too.

[TechMonkey]

Think I'm being a bit dim.

 

Read through this thread and saw the recommendations not to have the DNS set in the NIC properties. So I decided to set our new network servers like that. I put the Google DNS in to the Forwarders section of DNS above the County ones, removed all DNS addresses from the servers and watched as the internet disappeared from them. If I push the County DNS back up to the top all works fine.

 

Am I doing something wrong or have county blocked other DNS providers?

[Geoff]

If your port 53 isn't open then the latter.