DNS question

Why does it take so long for dns settings to change?

I've never really understood why it takes up to 48 hours for dns settings to sort themselves out.... i read somewhere that someone has to change the settings manaully, but surley you could make a script to automate that?

I'm royally confused.

 

because the way the DNS system is set up it's like a cascade. You've got a few master DNS servers, these update once a day. Then you've got a whole bunch of secondary servers, these also update once a day. So in order for the changes to populate to every DNS server on the planet you've got to wait for the primaries to update, then wait for the secondaries. Taking up to 48 hours for both updates.

 

here's a howstuffworks page explaining the levels of DNS servers
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/dns5.htm

 

Changing DNS Manually is a local configuration has nothing to do with DNS propagation by the Actual Internet servers’ world wide.

 

ahh... i see....

This creates a problem. Ive transferred a domain from some place in the pacific (well, san fran actually) but doesnt that mean that it wont update the name servers down the line? And i dont think thats happenening (try nslookup on totalkrap.tk)

 

Sam Spade sez...

.tk is a domain of Tokelau
(international dialing code 690)
I don't know of a whois server for tk, sorry

You transferred a domain? It's true you can do it, but this is normally done for you by the new web host or in the case of self hosters, at the domain company holding your domain name.

These changes are done manually (possibly by you) via web interface or by asking them to make the changes for you. If you simply moved your web site from one server to another without letting Internic or Network Solutions or whom ever holds the ticket on your domain name, then you will never get updated because you need to change dns numbers at that higher level.

Simply putting a web site on a server is only half the story. Nobody will know you're there.

 

Ok... so ive changed the name servers on the dot.tk side of things... and now the settings on the new nameservers arnt taking any effect?

 

ive found it...

totalrap.tk - registered and hosted

total...RAP? totalKRAP!!! argh!

 

Word to yo' homies.

Wow that sucks.