Speed Up Your Internet with Namebench, a Free Open-Source DNS Benchmark Utility
Recently Google announced a free Public DNS service to compete with such free services as OpenDNS. DNS (Domain Name Server) is a database of Internet names and IP (Internet Protocol) addresses which translates names (e.g., randytyler.org) to IP (174.133.21.80) addressses and vice versa. Most users likely use their ISP's (Internet Service providers) DNS address. However, for security, privacy and/or speed, one may choose to use a different DNS service. How do you know which DNS Service will speed up your Internet? Namebench, a free, open-source desktop-based application tests a number of DNS servers to determine which is the fastest and provides an html-based report. The individualized report, among other details, recommends Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Servers for you to use. Interestingly, when I ran the test, Namebench recommended I use my ISP's DNS instead of the DNS service I have been using for a couple of years (which is, OpenDNS). As mentioned speed alone may not be the sole factor that determines whose DNS you choose to use. For example, OpenDNS (instead of providing an error) provides a re-direction to a page of suggested sites, accompanied by advertising, when a name does not resolve to an IP address. However, OpenDNS offered a secure service when other DNS servers were vulnerable to attacks. Namebench, which runs on Mac OS X, Windows, and UNIX is available in both a graphical user interface (GUI) and command-line interface from: http://code.google.com/p/namebench/ For further information about how a non profit organization can develop a productive virtual volunteering program through the use of appropriate technology, please visit this Online Volunteering Resource.
