In computing, a name server (also called 'nameserver') consists of a program or computer server that implements a name-service protocol. It will normally map (i.e. connect) a human-recognisable identifier of a host (for example, the domain name 'en.wikipedia.org') to its computer-recognisable identifier (such as the Internet Protocol (IP) address 145.97.39.155), and vice versa.[1]
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Domain Name System
Internet name servers implement the Domain Name System (DNS) protocol. Name servers also exist on some Microsoft Windows networks where one host can take the role of NetBIOS Master Browser and act as a NBNS server. Small local networks of Windows systems require no central name server, and generally perform name-resolution using broadcasts.
Primary and secondary nameservers
Every domain name must have a primary nameserver (eg. ns1.domainname.com), and at least one secondary nameserver (ns2.domainname.com etc). This requirement aims to make the domain still reachable even if one nameserver becomes inaccessible.[1]
See also
- DNS Security Extensions (DNSSEC)
- Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP)
- nscd, a name-service caching daemon[2]
- Name Service Switch (NSS)
- Network Information Service (NIS)
- resolver, resolv.conf, resolvconf for Unix/Linux
- root nameserver
