DNS Settings

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geniosity

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I think I saw something similar to this a long time ago, but it's just started happening more frequently again.

Quite often, when clicking a link to a site, I get a page timeout. Then, if I just refresh, the page appears. Does ANYBODY know why this is happening? It's not speed, as my connection and signal are great, and files/pages come down quickly...
 
It is most definately speed.

Quick rundown on what a DNS Server is:

Everything on the internet (and a network) has an IP address. It's difficult memorizing an IP address to go to a web page (plus, it makes shared-servers impossible) so... what a DNS server does is keep a record of what domain name goes to which IP address.

Your browser/PC caches alot of frequent requests, so if you go to google 100 times a day, it most probably will only ask for an IP address everytime you restart your machine during the day or dial up to a new connection.

The time it takes for a (proper) dns server to get your request over and done with is minimal. a Timeout like you've described happens when the connection is so slow it actually times out. (which shouldn't be the DNS server)

This is unfortunate and can only be remedied by getting a true broadband solution, whatever that may be.

Don't be afraid to log a call with your respective ISP though, they should be notified of these things happening.

Otherwise, what you could do is override their DNS settings (if you're convinced it's them) with your own that you know works.
 
geniosity said:
I think I saw something similar to this a long time ago, but it's just started happening more frequently again.

Quite often, when clicking a link to a site, I get a page timeout. Then, if I just refresh, the page appears. Does ANYBODY know why this is happening? It's not speed, as my connection and signal are great, and files/pages come down quickly...
Click to expand...

It's not only your connection as the same is happening to me again for the past week or so, and as far as I'm concerned it is not a speed problem from my side.

At one stage some time ago it used to happen almost with every webpage whether I'd been to that page several times during the same session, then all of a sudden it worked for awhile but now back to the same timeouts.:confused:

Maybe THIS IS ANOTHER THREAD SHAUN GREEN or ED SHOULD ADDRESS when he/they decide to reply to the other questions.:eek: :rolleyes:
 
If u can get to the main page of the website ,its not a DNS problem because its done it job (resolved a name -to- ip).Its a speed problem as AcidRazor said.This looks like a MTU type problem.

Best do a ping to the website - if its resolves correctly its not dns.Use DIG and nslookup to confirm DNS is working
 
ubercal said:
If u can get to the main page of the website ,its not a DNS problem because its done it job (resolved a name -to- ip).Its a speed problem as AcidRazor said.This looks like a MTU type problem.

Best do a ping to the website - if its resolves correctly its not dns.Use DIG and nslookup to confirm DNS is working
Click to expand...

In my case it's not the dreaded MTU problem and it happens on a mainpage as well as links from a mainpage.
 
Nickste said:
The problem could be that the ISP's DNS server does not contain a valid record for the specified domain?
I use opendns: http://www.opendns.org
I find it works well :)

Cheers, Nick
Click to expand...

I'm busy trying opendns but after adding the settings wbs seem to be forcing their dns as DNS 3 since when I reconnect it adds 196.46.70.1 to the 3rd DNS setting.:confused:

I tried resetting the router, modem and rebooted my PC, but as soon as I connect the wbs DNS pops up again as I stated above.
Also if I go to the OpenDNS testpage it says it's not working.:confused:
 
I had pretty much the same problem last night - and it coincided with my changing over from @wbs to @iburst username. Suddenly I'm having trouble getting onto oft-visited sites like GMail...

We are not amused.
 
Don't put the opendns settings in on your router. I have a netgear router, and when I try and put it into that, Telkom doesn't allow me to connect. Have to specify it in TCP/IP connections.

Cheers, Nick
 
Nickste said:
Don't put the opendns settings in on your router. I have a netgear router, and when I try and put it into that, Telkom doesn't allow me to connect. Have to specify it in TCP/IP connections.

Cheers, Nick
Click to expand...

That means I have to add it to each of my PCs correct?

What about the DNS settings in the router, do I leave the wbs DNS settings there because if I remove them they are added again when I get a new IP.:confused:
And if the wbs DNS settings reappear in the router I assume they are the settings been used so how do I know which DNS I am actually using?
 
Nickste said:
No, leave the WBS ones in your router, and then assign the opendns ones manually to each pc on the network. It worked for me :)

Cheers, Nick
Click to expand...

Thats what I've done but since the wbs DNS pops up in the router setting how do you know if you are really using the OpenDNS settings since it is the router that connects to the base station?

I'm not questioning your knowledge but I'd like to know how it can be proved as to which you are actually using.

EDIT: ok nevermind I see now when I run the OpenDNS test it says I'm using it, thanks again for the info.:)
 
Hmmm, ok so far with OpenDNS every webpage opens first time which is better than the timeout I was getting from the wbs DNS, this seems to prove to me that something is not quite right with the wbs DNS
 
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