What is a name server?
A name server is a computer that contains a list of domain names and the associated IP addresses. When a domain name is typed in a Web browser’s address bar, the name server associates that with the IP address, and the correct Web site — barring any unforeseen difficulties — opens in the Web browser window.
When using a domain name (for email, web hosting, and just parking a domain) it must reside on a host computer, called a Domain Name Server (DNS). Domain Name Servers are connected to the internet and use special software to translate domain names into the numerical addresses (Internet Protocol numbers) used by the Internet. When internet users enter your domain name into their browser bar, the Domain Name Server directs them to your web site. Without it, your domain name is invisible on the Internet. Normally when you register a domain name with TurnKey Internet, you simply will use the TurnKey Internet name servers: ns1.turnkeyinternet.net, ns2.turnkeyinternet.net, ns3.turnkeyinternet.net, ns4.turnkeyinternet.net If you registered your domain through another registrar, you will most likely use their name servers. Dedicated Server and Virtual Server (VPS) hosting accounts can run their own name servers for even more flexibility and ease of use when setting up domain names.
Let’s pretend that a domain name is a book in a library. How do you find out which shelf to go to so that you can get the book you want? You ask the librarian. Name servers are like librarians; they hold and seek out information about where to locate a particular domain name in the biggest of all libraries, the Internet. Computers only recognise and find each other via a set of numbers called IP addresses (example 216.122.12.38). For a computer to find a web site on the Internet, a domain name such as Internetnamesww.com needs to be translated into a numerical IP address and vice versa. The computers that perform these translations are called name servers. Hence for a domain name to function and point to your web site, it first needs to be configured so that it points to a name server. The name server will then have information about where the files for the web site are stored and will “guide” the web browser to the location of your home page. Name servers are sometimes also referred t
