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Test DNS Server Speed, Google Public DNS and OpenDNS Benchmarking

DNS (Domain Name System) is a hierarchical naming system built on a distributed database for computers, services, or any resource connected to the Internet or a private network. It associates various information with domain names assigned to each of the participating entities. Most importantly, it translates domain names meaningful to humans into the numerical identifiers associated with networking equipment for the purpose of locating and addressing these devices worldwide. With this DNS you can reach my blog just by typing www.ivankristianto.com rather than using an IP address like 67.228.191.153.

There are 2 big companies that provide free DNS service, OpenDNS and Google Public DNS. But which one is faster for you? I did a test to see which one is faster from my network.

For my test I’m using:

  • Windows Vista SP2 with 2GB of RAM
  • Internet connection speed DL 2mbps UL 512kbps
ver | time
nslookup www.google.com 208.67.222.222
ver | time
nslookup www.google.com 208.67.220.220
ver | time
nslookup www.google.com 8.8.8.8
ver | time
nslookup www.google.com 8.8.4.4
ver | time

Credit to Amit Agarwal for this small script.

Results:

D:>testns.bat

D:>ver   | time
The current time is: 17:01:04.19
Enter the new time:

D:>nslookup www.ivankristianto.com 208.67.222.222
Server:  resolver1.opendns.com
Address:  208.67.222.222

Non-authoritative answer:
Name:    ivankristianto.com
Address:  67.228.191.153
Aliases:  www.ivankristianto.com

D:>ver   | time
The current time is: 17:01:04.98
Enter the new time:

D:>nslookup www.ivankristianto.com 208.67.220.220
Server:  resolver2.opendns.com
Address:  208.67.220.220

Non-authoritative answer:
Name:    ivankristianto.com
Address:  67.228.191.153
Aliases:  www.ivankristianto.com

D:>ver   | time
The current time is: 17:01:05.81
Enter the new time:

D:>nslookup www.ivankristianto.com 8.8.8.8
Server:  google-public-dns-a.google.com
Address:  8.8.8.8

Non-authoritative answer:
Name:    ivankristianto.com
Address:  67.228.191.153
Aliases:  www.ivankristianto.com

D:>ver   | time
The current time is: 17:01:06.08
Enter the new time:

D:>nslookup www.ivankristianto.com 8.8.4.4
Server:  google-public-dns-b.google.com
Address:  8.8.4.4

Non-authoritative answer:
Name:    ivankristianto.com
Address:  67.228.191.153
Aliases:  www.ivankristianto.com

D:>ver   | time
The current time is: 17:01:06.36
Enter the new time:

Readable result:

nslookup www.ivankristianto.com 208.67.222.222
Server:  resolver1.opendns.com
Start time: 17:01:04.19
End time: 17:01:04.98
Speed: 79ms

nslookup www.ivankristianto.com 208.67.220.220
Server:  resolver2.opendns.com
Start time: 17:01:04.98
End time: 17:01:05.81
Speed: 83ms

nslookup www.ivankristianto.com 8.8.8.8
Server:  google-public-dns-a.google.com
Start time: 17:01:05.81
End time: 17:01:06.08
Speed: 17ms

nslookup www.ivankristianto.com 8.8.4.4
Server:  google-public-dns-b.google.com
Start time: 17:01:06.08
End time: 17:01:06.36
Speed: 28ms

From the results OpenDNS took 79ms and 83ms, and Google Public DNS took 17ms and 28ms to reach www.ivankristianto.com. So Google Public DNS is relatively faster than OpenDNS from my network. And now I’m about to change my DNS settings to use Google Public DNS.