Not only openDNS, but now also Google Public DNS

Google DNS open for the public.

Want to try?

Configuration Instructions

 

cool, thanks for the info.

 

Also found free Comodo DNS:

http://www.comodo.com/news/press_releases/10_12_09.html
http://www.comodo.com/secure-dns/switch/

 

Yeah, but Google has superior ping time, because they have bigger servers in the neigbourhoud than any other DNS service.

 

what about OpenDNS?

 

And size really DOES matter -- the faster the ping the quicker the zing, sooo Google is king.

I switched to Google DNS from OpenDNS, & Google DOES seem a tad faster.

Uh... so Commode-o has a free DNS. Ho-hum -- nooo way I'm gonna use any of their schtuff. No, not never.

 

Right you are, consistently 35-40% faster in my testing

 

I ran the GRC DNS workbench against Open, Google, L3com, and my ISP. From my location, L3com is the clear winner, although Open does pretty well except for being unreliable. And my ISP does fine most of the time too on the uncached DNS lookups. Google is a distant fourth. Try it yourselves if you want to see who is best for you. I am using L3COM now.

 

Comodo DNS doesn't "really" exist, it's a rented server that belongs to Neustar (UltraDNS):
http://www.ultradns.com/

 

@ sded: this Gibson tool is really nice, thanks for sharing

 

I think it depends on your location. I'm still getting faster responses from Google than l3com.

 

1st - Open DNS the best here!

Next:

2 - DNS ADVANTAGE
3 - Comodo
4 - Google the worst.

 

I think location is the key. I am a mobile user (sometimes) and move around up and down the coast using wifi networks (from a boat), so a simple run of the benchmark helps figure out whether there is a DNS problem with my old settings in a new location. Routing isn't what it used to be. But Google isn't exactly a shining star (yet?). And the unreliability of OpenDNS seems to be a generic problem. majoMo, could you add the L3com 4.2.2.x to your run? They have always been very popular and effective, so seeing how they compare with the newer DNS services from more locations is of interest. Thanks; Ed.

 

faster here remains my ISP...then comes L3com.

 

Yeah. L3com seems solid.

OpenDNS is stable in results.

 

Thanks majoMo, looks like the newer DNS have not really leapfrogged L3Com, at least for most users. But OpenDNS does about as well and has the advantage of intercepting bad DNS requests, so looks like a good choice for many. And I get 100% from OpenDNS most of the time too.

 

unreliability? how so? never had a reliability problem with OpenDNS for past couple years...

 

yeah I've tried OpenDNS and didn't find it unreliable either at all. The weird thing is that it's found either inaccessible like with namebench (Google dns tester) or not optimal with Gibson...for some reasons...but again, I've run OpenDNS and couldn't find any flaw or issue with it.
Or may be it's just a security feature (intercepting bad requests) that leads to weird results when testing OpenDNS.

 

Unreliability is the term GRC uses for less than 100% return of an IP when you send something to a DNS. I was seeing some this morning with OpenDNS, but seems fine this afternoon. The conclusions told me to keep an eye on it, but it was not serious and seems to be OK now-maybe overload? By generic, I meant that there is no particular flaw in OpenDNS to worry about, just some situations where it may happen (like for the others probably).

 

What means the color codes of the bars? I assume red is the average of the green & blue/purple bars, but what means the green? What means the blue/purple?

Did I overlook a link in this thread whereat to download DNS Benchmark? In any event, I found the app down Yonder.