What Are The Most Common DNS Errors?

DNS or Domain Name System allows users to use Internet-connected services like web browsers or email seamlessly. The DNS server translates the words that you type into a URL bar. However, when it is not working as it should, users get a message saying, ‘DNS Error.’ It can be highly frustrating for clients and colleagues, especially if they are not tech-savvy.

Since there are two types of DNS, the issues may vary. The internal DNS is used within enterprises. It has problems related to configuration mistakes and problems that can prove difficult to solve if you don’t know what you are looking for. The public DNS is used for Internet connections and may have several issues related to malicious behavior initiated by hackers.

This guide will teach you the different DNS errors and their solutions.

1. Service Unavailable DNS Failure

If you encounter a DNS failure that isn’t responding or is unavailable, it means either your system is struggling to reach a DNS server or the server is struggling to reach the website.

In case of service unavailable DNS failure, you can try the following fixes:

• Restart the router or modem
• Restart your Mac
• Switch to a different browser
• Clear the DNS cache and browser cache
• Enable DNS filtering

2. High TTL Values

TTL means time to live, and if you have a high TTL value on your records, it will likely lead to high propagation wait times. It may even lead to downtimes when moving traffic between different servers.

The solution is changing the records to have a low TTL value. The only issue with low TTL values is you may have to deal with a high query load. But if the server can handle the additional load, there’s no problem at all.

Most ISPs DNS resolvers typically ignore TTL settings and even override them, so you don’t have to do anything.

3. Hardware/Network Failures

There are cases when hardware failures instigate DNS issues on the host machine. Or there might be network failures. These are beyond your control.

The solution for this is to troubleshoot your hardware or network configuration settings. It will help to identify the direct source of the specific problem.

4. Incorrectly Configured DNS Records

DNS issues might occur from the improper configuration of the DNS records. For example, if you fail to place the correct IP address and values of your records, there is a likelihood that DNS resolution problems will bog you down.

Some records like SPF, MX, and DKIM are particularly for email delivery. If the server is not correctly configured, it won’t be able to deliver or receive mail.

You can fix this problem by narrowing down your DNS error to a specific problem. For instance, if you are facing a mail delivery issue, you must first check whether your DKIM, SPF, and MX records are configured correctly.

5. DDoS Attacks

DDoS attacks can be prevented by placing the best security features in place. Sometimes, DNS issues might be a result of malicious attacks by hackers. They may do this by driving high traffic to your website until it crashes. Therefore, you must invest in security features to prevent these attacks.

This problem is fixed by employing high-performance DDoS mitigation devices.

6. High DNS Latency

If you are facing high DNS latency, you are experiencing high loading times. This might be a result of the DNS name servers not being in close proximity to a huge percentage of users who are visiting your website. Network congestion might be another reason.

For this issue, the solution depends on where the problem is at. Typically, changing the DNS servers to the users’ locations can solve the problem.

How To Diagnose DNS Errors?

You may encounter Internet problems, but your system has not explicitly told you there’s a DNS error. When that happens, you must find out whether you are dealing with a DNS problem before you can take the necessary steps to fix it.

You can try and skip the DNS function to see whether the web page loads itself. Instead, type the IP address in numbers into the web browser. If you do not know the IP address, you can test it with any random IP from Google. If the page successfully loads, there’s a DNS error.

Another way to determine this is by completing the ping test to find the IP address you require. Type cms into the Windows Start menu search bar and click Open Command Prompt. Then, type ping and the website name you are seeking for.

The Bottom Line

DNS errors can hamper your web browsing experience and prevent you from finding what you need online or sending/receiving emails. So, it is best to fix the issues so you can continue browsing the web without fuss.