A better DNS solution

[rbaibich]

So here's my problem: my router is running DD-WRT and I was noticing YouTube videos were painfully slow. Turns out it uses the DNS server you're using to choose what server will serve you video, and since I was using root DNS servers (4.2.2.1 and 4.2.2.2) it was giving me the worst possible server and taking forever to serve me videos. The problem happens on a few other sites as well.

So I went back into using my ISP's (Qwest) DNS servers. The only problem is that those servers suck. From time to time it'll take forever to resolve an address.

How can I have a solution that gets me faster address resolution and doesn't screw up streaming sites that use the DNS server you got an IP from to serve you video from different servers?

Thanks.

 

[JackMDS]

DNS servers 4.2.2.1 and 4.2.2.2 are Verizon public DNS and are as Good as a DNS can be.

You probably have another problem in your Network that is Not DNS related.

Optimizing the TCP/IP Stack - http://www.ezlan.net/Internet_Speed.html

 

[rbaibich]

I know those DNS servers are awesome - the problem is that they're resolving streaming video server addresses in a way that makes it impossible to use. So I'm trying to find a place in the middle, maybe a local caching server.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: rbaibich
I know those DNS servers are awesome - the problem is that they're resolving streaming video server addresses in a way that makes it impossible to use. So I'm trying to find a place in the middle, maybe a local caching server.

I have to question why you think this is a DNS problem. It is a very simple process, DNS that is.

All resolvers and servers cache results. What exactly is the problem? Take a packet capture and you should be able to see what is really going on.

Normally what you are seeing is a result of spyware or malware.

 

[hiromizu]

Have you tried rebooting your modem? Have you tried connecting your machine directly to the modem? Have you tried rebooting your computer? Did you call your ISP? Did you get the latest DNS server IPs from your ISP? What did they say?

 

[mxnerd]

network route from you to the video website is more likely the problem, not DNS.

Use tracert command to trace the route or download pingplotter free and test the route.

If you still think DNS is the cause, just google "free public dns" and you will get a lot of answers.

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: mxnerd
Use tracert command to trace the route or download pingplotter free and test the route.

rbaibich

Download this Free program and run it.

http://www.d3tr.de/download.html

What the output means?

http://www.ezlan.net/network/trace.jpg

The table shows the result of multi ping from my computer through a Buffalo Router to Internet site 96.6.68.195*

The important columns in the table (for this discussion) are the two in the middle. I.e. Min. ms and Max ms.

The numbers there show a typical outcome. As the trace progress on the Internet the variation changes dramatically.

So while the variation on my Router is 1ms, and the connection to the direct ISP's server is 2ms, the variation later on is almost 20ms.

So what practically this means.

One should run a similar trace to his favorite Games IPs, or any other type of Internet connetion that is important to you.

If the first number on the table present a very big variation as compare to the delays of the Interent traffic, than it is something in your local Network.

Other it is a typical Internet variability and there Nothing that One can do about it beside trying to talk to the ISP.

-------------
* The target IP number is an Akami server. Akami servers are probably the best server system on the Internet far surpass most the gaming servers.

 

[kevnich2]

The issue your having doesn't sound like DNS at all. A website isn't going to give you results based on your DNS server. I use 4.2.2.x servers myself for DNS as they never really have any issues and have NEVER had a problem with streaming video...or anything else for that matter.

 

[pdo]

how about OPENDNS?

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

Originally posted by: pdo
how about OPENDNS?

I second this.

 

[mxnerd]

The 3d Trace tool Jack mentioned is really excellent.

My experience is OpenDNS will redirect traffic to their search engine result if the website you want to visit is down, not very good for trouble shooting.

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: pdo
how about OPENDNS?

I do not think that people really understand what OpenDNS can do for them.

Every time the term DNS is mentioned in a post few people would post this suggestion.

If One uses a regular Good DNS (and the 4.2.2.2 is as good as it gets) OpenDNS would do nothing for you DNS wise.

OpenDNS offers other good services, but it has nothing to do with simple DNS resolution per-se.

In matter of fact it just adds another delay in the sequence of the steam.

 

[Nuwave]

I like OpenDNS for the simple fact that it corrects mistyped extensions. For example .cmo will automatically correct .com.

Although I use 4.2.2.x myself at home.

 

[James Bond]

In general, you will save time by describing your problem and what you have seen, rather than pursuing what you _think_ may be the answer.

 

[Modelworks]

I use OpenDNS now but also run a DNS server at home, My isp DNS is about 4 times slower than OpenDNS.
As others have said though that should not have anything to do with problems with youtube.


I did use the 4.2.2.x addresses but got word about two weeks ago that they will soon start blocking non network traffic so I made the OpenDNS switch. So a heads up for the folks still using 4.2.2.x.

 

[James Bond]

Originally posted by: Modelworks
I use OpenDNS now but also run a DNS server at home, My isp DNS is about 4 times slower than OpenDNS.
As others have said though that should not have anything to do with problems with youtube.


I did use the 4.2.2.x addresses but got word about two weeks ago that they will soon start blocking non network traffic so I made the OpenDNS switch. So a heads up for the folks still using 4.2.2.x.

No way where did you hear that?

 

[Modelworks]

Originally posted by: James Bond

Originally posted by: Modelworks
I use OpenDNS now but also run a DNS server at home, My isp DNS is about 4 times slower than OpenDNS.
As others have said though that should not have anything to do with problems with youtube.


I did use the 4.2.2.x addresses but got word about two weeks ago that they will soon start blocking non network traffic so I made the OpenDNS switch. So a heads up for the folks still using 4.2.2.x.

No way where did you hear that?

My nephew is a tech for the company running the 4.2.2.x servers. He only told me soon so I don't know how that translates in corporate speak. He said they let it go for a long time because it wasn't an issue, but now more and more people are starting to use the address and it is costing them to have to increase spending on hardware so they are going to have to trim it back to customers only.

I guess I can understand the logic, someone has to pay for the servers and with more and more people starting to use them, guess its getting out of control. We all should have kept it a secret

Edit:

Forgot to say that he did tell me they are considering leaving some of the addresses active but that they may not be as fast as the main ones were. So I expect he means the 4.2.2.5 + ones. But if its slower then I have no reason to use them.

 

[kevnich2]

Seeing as how the 4.2.2.1, 2, 3, etc DNS servers are run by Level3 (last I checked), I seriously doubt they're very concerned about the network traffic for DNS queries to those servers

 

[Modelworks]

Originally posted by: kevnich2
Seeing as how the 4.2.2.1, 2, 3, etc DNS servers are run by Level3 (last I checked), I seriously doubt they're very concerned about the network traffic for DNS queries to those servers

Just because they are Level 3 does not mean they have limitless resources. They can't be the DNS servers for all the internet, especially not for free.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: kevnich2
Seeing as how the 4.2.2.1, 2, 3, etc DNS servers are run by Level3 (last I checked), I seriously doubt they're very concerned about the network traffic for DNS queries to those servers

The traffic is small, it's the load on the servers. I'm almost positive L3 are front ended by a load balancer. Most ISPs of any size are.

Also I am against opendns because I don't want anybody recording my surfing habits to sell or market to others. DNS is an amazingly simple thing.

 

[JackMDS]

As Spidey said DNS is a very simple thing. It seems that it became to Networkers as the useless over wattage PSU is to hardware enthusiasts.

There is No magic in Internet traffic, every one can run a trace and see where the Bottle neck is instead using the "Magic Mantra (wishful thinking)" word OpenDNS.

Yeah 4.2.2.x is popular among Network enthusiasts because it is good and easy to remember the number, however there is a lot of other public DNS run by other major ISPs.

However in the general scheme of things where 98% of the users never heard of DNS (and probably confuse it with DNA), and their Routers (or TCP/IP directly) are set to obtain the DNS automatically from their ISPs, I doubt that the public DNS' are in Danger.

 

[Pheran]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: rbaibich
I know those DNS servers are awesome - the problem is that they're resolving streaming video server addresses in a way that makes it impossible to use. So I'm trying to find a place in the middle, maybe a local caching server.

I have to question why you think this is a DNS problem. It is a very simple process, DNS that is.

Not if you are talking about something huge like YouTube/Google, which is very likely using a DNS-based global load-balancing solution. In fact www.youtube.com is a CNAME for youtube.l.google.com, and if I had to guess I'd bet that 'l.google.com' is a domain delegated to DNS load balancers (e.g. F5 BIG-IP Global Traffic Manager or similar). It is possible to configure those to provide answers based on geographical (or some other network metric) affinity to the DNS resolver source IPs. Here's an example of this in action:

Resolution of YouTube from my workplace:

;; ANSWER SECTION:
www.youtube.com. 66166 IN CNAME youtube.l.google.com.
youtube.l.google.com. 300 IN CNAME youtube-ui.l.google.com.
youtube-ui.l.google.com. 300 IN A 209.85.133.100
youtube-ui.l.google.com. 300 IN A 209.85.133.101
youtube-ui.l.google.com. 300 IN A 209.85.133.102

Resolution of YouTube using 4.2.2.1 (Level3) as the resolver:

;; ANSWER SECTION:
www.youtube.com. 43200 IN CNAME youtube.l.google.com.
youtube.l.google.com. 300 IN CNAME youtube-ui.l.google.com.
youtube-ui.l.google.com. 300 IN A 72.14.213.100
youtube-ui.l.google.com. 300 IN A 72.14.213.101
youtube-ui.l.google.com. 300 IN A 72.14.213.102
youtube-ui.l.google.com. 300 IN A 72.14.213.113

Resolution of YouTube using 208.67.222.222 (OpenDNS) as the resolver:

;; ANSWER SECTION:
www.youtube.com. 86266 IN CNAME youtube.l.google.com.
youtube.l.google.com. 276 IN CNAME youtube-ui.l.google.com.
youtube-ui.l.google.com. 290 IN A 74.125.127.113
youtube-ui.l.google.com. 290 IN A 74.125.127.102
youtube-ui.l.google.com. 290 IN A 74.125.127.100
youtube-ui.l.google.com. 290 IN A 74.125.127.101

Note the completely different sets of IPs returned. I don't know if this could be the OPs problem without seeing the DNS results when he uses Qwest vs. Level3 resolvers, but it is possible.