I'm a user of DNSBench.
For the last 24 hours, every time I run DNSBench, the results show a high number of DNS servers as unreliable in one or more categories (cached, uncached & .com lookup). I don't care about the ones I don't use, but the results include all the known ones I switch between (OpenDNS, Comodo Secure DNS, ClearCloud DNS, Symantec Norton DNS, DNS Advantage), as well as my own ISP's ones.
I first noticed it last night and it's been going on all day long.
My question is, what could be the cause of it, if nth has changed at my end (hardware config, cabling, etc.), and if there's something I can do to fix it?
Thanks.
I am human
Hey FD - Is this actually causing any problems with your Internet connection? Are you experiencing any issues at all connecting through any of your regular DNS servers?
Jim
Hi Jim,
Well, so far no serious problems, like urls not being resolved. But once in a while, it seems to "choke" when starting to connect to a site and then loads the whole content at once.
Though no such incident since my OP .
Maybe I'm reading too much into this, just was surprised to see it happen and go on all day long for no apparent reason. Still, if it's got anything to do with my end, I'd like to fix it.
I am human
Reason I asked FD, if it does not appear to be affecting your browsing in any serious way then I guess it's pretty safe to assume that the reports from the DNSBench software must be inaccurate. Would be highly unusual for five of the leading DNS servers to all be simultaneously 'unreliable' anyway, so that would also suggest a possible problem with the benchmarking software.
Only other possibility, I can think of, would be a fault with the router perhaps, but that would also normally be apparent via connection issues. How do you connect to the net? You could try power-cycling the router (if you use one).
How are you switching between DNS servers? I assume you are using a specific software for that?
Is this the DNSBench software you are using (form GRC): http://www.grc.com/dns/benchmark.htm? I can download and try myself and see what results I get. Although, results may vary depending on location.
Cheers.....Jim
Hi Jim,
It seems that the issue solved itself (probably at the time I noticed all glitches gone). I just run DNSBench and all DNS servers are reported as 100% reliable. So, things look good now and I hope they stay that way.
Yes, it's DNSBench from GRC. Could be a problem of the software, though I never had any problems with it.
I'm behind a router. Not sure if it was a problem of the router, as I saw nth unusual in its log and I did power-cycle it (left it turned off for good 5 mins before switching it on again) only to be faced with the same odd issue.
One other explanation could be that, after a long period of sunny days, it's been cloudy today .
I switch DNS servers manually - if things can be done without a 3rd-party software, I prefer not to use one.
I also have a custom made DNSservers.ini file that I use with DNSBench - I only test the ones I mentioned in my OP along with my ISP's ones, so I have no use for the endless list GRC loads.
Thanks for your interest.
I am human
Hey FD - One of those mysterious glitches that happen from time to time.....gremlins???
Anyway, glad to hear all is now back to normal and functioning OK.
I actually downloaded and ran the DNSBench software. Haven't had time yet for in-depth evaluation but it certainly appears to provide the user with some pretty useful information.
I stick with OpenDNS all the time. For me, there is more to it than just speed and the millisecond variances involved aren't going to make much difference to my browsing experience anyway.
I guess you'd already be aware it's generally better to reverse the DNS server's recommendations; i.e. use recommended secondary address as primary, and recommended primary as secondary.
Cheers now.....Jim
I like DNSBench better than the one from Google (name escapes me), precisely because of the info you get after you run the benchmark test, which helps not only to choose but also to understand.
I agree that millisecond variances don't make much of a difference to one's browsing experience, if any (or to anything else in life).
I use the DNSBench results more as a guideline, as I do sort my DNS servers based on three factors:
- "uncached" performance (have the bad habit of clearing the Firefox cache every time I close Firefox),
- the results of the [url=https://www.grc.com/dns/dns.htm:1brhpk6w]Spoofability Test[/url:1brhpk6w], and
- two different DNS servers, so that if one fails it won't kill my browsing.
Excluding DNS Advantage, all the others offer protection against infected sites, which is an important factor to take into account, more than "speed".
[quote:1brhpk6w]...gremlins???[/quote:1brhpk6w]
Gee, that takes me some 25 years back (sigh).
I am human
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