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$ ipconfig /all
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . . : a.b.c.d
                                      a.b.c.e

Why do I have two DNS servers listed? Is it something like try second in case first fails?

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3 Answers

up vote 9 down vote accepted

Yep, exactly correct, redundancy.

Most big DNS providers always give two addresses in the event that one fails.

Google - Configure your network settings to use the IP addresses 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 as your DNS servers or

OpenDNS - 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220

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+1 - In Windows the terminology is "Primary DNS" and "Backup DNS" – JNK Sep 10 '10 at 14:37
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I like the public verizon DNS too, 4.2.2.1 and 4.2.2.2 – JNK Sep 10 '10 at 14:37
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@JNK +1, also as a side note, on Windows, if you click the advanced button then the DNS tab, you can have a lot more than two! (I am sure you will be able to do this in other operating systems as well!) – William Hilsum Sep 10 '10 at 14:38
@JNK: 4.2.2.[1-5], and isn't it owned by Level3? – grawity Sep 10 '10 at 19:43
@grawity - it may be now, when I used it before it was a verizon public. – JNK Sep 10 '10 at 19:58
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up vote 3 down vote

Google has a program that they have released that will run speed tests on all of the most popular DNS servers including your ISP's.

http://code.google.com/p/namebench/

This maybe be of some use to you if you wish to tweak your DNS settings.

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up vote 0 down vote

Let's keep in mind while using a Free DNS you are not protected by your isp privacy policy instead you are at risk of sharing your URL information such as banking information, logins, personal info, etc with said provider.

However, if you are simply using a free dns while on games etc. It's probaby going to ignore your querys and not list your information in a list they could be using for something. Selling, Harvesting, Whichever.

They are not providing you free dns because they pay for it out of their pocket and take a loss. They are auditing their dns many times and when you read this message and are using their free dns; they are able to recieve this message.

Just unplug your isp modem while you sleep, plug it in when you awake and after pc and modem is booted. Open cmd.exe and run these commands:

ipconfig \flushdns

ipconfig \renew
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