1.3.12

DNS & Web Hosting

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Domain Name Service (DNS)

When a client sends a request to the server, it has to use an Internet Protocol (IP) address so that we can find the correct server. Modern web browsers allow us to enter a domain name instead, which the DNS translates.

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Why use the DNS?

  • Domain names are much easier to read and remember than IP addresses.
  • Computers have to use IP addresses to communicate over the Internet Protocol.
  • The DNS converts these domain names into IP addresses for us.
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DNS lookup

  • When we have a domain name, we send a request to the nearest DNS server asking for the IP address associated with that domain name.
  • The DNS server responds with the correct IP address.
  • The client can then use this IP address to send their original request.
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DNS miss

  • If a DNS server discovers that it does not have an IP address associated with a particular domain name (a DNS miss), then it can ask other DNS servers that it knows about.
  • By continuing to ask other, larger DNS servers, we will eventually resolve the IP address and send this to the original client.

Web Hosting

Web hosting is the act of keeping a website on a server, and allowing clients to request to see the pages of the website.

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Websites

  • A website is a collection of webpages which are linked together using hyperlinks.
  • A user can click on hyperlinks to navigate the website.
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Hosting a website

  • A web server is a dedicated computer on the Internet which responds to HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) requests by returning webpages.
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Setting up a web server

  • Some people choose to host their own website, but this can be difficult for many reasons:
    • There are a lot of security risks.
    • It can be difficult to make sure that the server does not go down, for example if there is a power cut.
    • Web servers are expensive.
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Hosting providers

  • Most people opt to use a web hosting company. A web hosting company will charge a monthly fee in return for hosting your site for you.
  • Web hosting companies will:
    • Host your website.
    • Regularly back up your site.
    • Apply security patches for you.

Jump to other topics

1Computer Systems

1.1Systems Architecture

1.2Memory & Storage

1.3Computer Networks, Connections & Protocols

1.4Network Security

1.5Systems Software

1.6Ethical, Legal, Cultural & Environmental Concern

2Computational Thinking, Algorithms and Programming

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