DNS Benchmark Conclusions & Recommendations

by S. Gibson


Only built-in resolvers were benchmarked.
System has multiple redundant nameservers configured.
All system nameservers are alive & replying to queries.
System's nameservers are probably optimally ordered.
System nameservers are SLOWER than 12 public alternatives!
This system's nameservers intercept name errors.
This system's nameservers are 100% reliable.
System nameservers are replying to all query types.

[MOVE]REMEMBER TO CHECK SPOOFABILITY !![/MOVE]

So I did:

Playing with dyndns now, next is openDNS

- your results? Comments? Advice?

 

Just note - it's not all about benchmarks. Most people will have at _least_ 12 various different DNS servers or more, all that vary in only MILLISECONDS, giving you the freedom of choice.

Simply put, don't just pick the one that's 0.1ms faster at completing your request, or 2ms faster at responding to a ping. Sure go for one with reasonable performance, but you're bound to have a lot of services to choose from.

More info here: http://www.dyndns.com/services/dynguide/

You can sign up for an account if you wish to prevent invalid domain redirection, and block extra things like advertisements, gambling, etc.

 

Thanks funky!

Now on OPENdns

System has only ONE (router based) nameserver configured.
System nameserver is SLOWER than 2 public alternatives!
This system nameserver returns errors.
System's sole nameserver is alive and replying to queries.
Only built-in resolvers were benchmarked.

Seems like a downgrade?

 

If you're asking for my opinion, for me, they are both equal in performance.

But there are a few features/reasons why I ended up moving to DynDNS. 1. Blocking of ads, 2. Turning off invalid domain redirection and 3. Easy Dynamic IP updating from my router.

 

So I ran my default DNS

the rest: all greens

What to make of it? My default DNS better than those tested above?

 

The free DNS providers over market the speed gain, a lot of the time people will have faster DNS from their own ISP, especially if the DNS provider doesn't have a server in your country.

That doesn't necessary make it better, though, that's for you to decide.

 

funky is here?

now on ClearCloud with suggested settings - result:

that's...odd isn't it?

 

It just means your 2nd (backup) nameserver is located/resolving closer to you than your primary nameserver.

 

I second that!

All I wanted to say was how strange it felt to see the result which indicated....the suggested settings were wrong?

 

After playing with this myself for a bit and finding that your results can vary by the hour, if you are looking for speed you are wasting your time. Pick a good reliable DNS server and be done with it. You can find more useful ways to optimize your machine.

 

Speed was never my primary concern, nooo

Just wanted to get a second opinion about the results that sometimes were a bit ummm perplexing for me