Timeline for Is it true to say that the terms DNS server and Nameserver are generally synonymous?
Current License: CC BY-SA 4.0
8 events
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| Mar 8, 2021 at 16:45 | comment | added | Patrick Mevzek | "about context, it is indeed very important but my question was general;" Speaking only about myself, depending on the context, I do use either of the two terms. Maybe "DNS server" more when speaking about the logical function and to non technical people, and "nameserver" more about the physical box and computer doing the service when talking more with a technical crowd (that is aware that a "name"server does not serve just names but anything in the DNS). | |
| Mar 8, 2021 at 16:43 | comment | added | Patrick Mevzek | See RFC8499 that at least try to fix things once for all. A newer version is currently being drafted (not really to change already existing content but to add new things). You are welcome to participate in the IETF efforts to enhance this document. | |
| Mar 8, 2021 at 16:42 | comment | added | timesharer | I am quite familiar with the rules thanks :) and yes, about context, it is indeed very important but my question was general; perhaps the entire DNS terminology should be "updated" or "re-organized" (or both). | |
| Mar 8, 2021 at 16:39 | comment | added | Patrick Mevzek |
And please remember that the DNS (as a system/protocol/framework) is over 40 years old, so its content/use, including MX records, predates any provider you might know of, so MX records are certainly not specific to any 2000-era big online provider. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domain_Name_System seems a good introduction on the subject and then you can ask for more specific points (but be sure to read the help here as such questions might be seen as offtopic because not exactly immediately related to running a website).
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| Mar 8, 2021 at 16:37 | comment | added | Patrick Mevzek |
1) Yes "DNS" is ambiguous depending on context it can be system, service, or other things. There are other ambiguities like "IDN name" or "DNS name" or TLD being abused to speak about things like "uk.com", etc. So the important point is context, and audience, depending on who you speak to you can do some shortcuts or not. 2) As for "records such as MX record which doesn't do a lot with a "name"", yes the DNS is not just for name-> IP mapping, there are far more information in it. Like MX you said, or TXT, or SRV, or the newer HTTPS record...
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| Mar 8, 2021 at 16:30 | vote | accept | timesharer | ||
| Mar 8, 2021 at 16:30 | comment | added | timesharer | I think that in asking the question I was confused at least from the term "DNS server" by itself because it includes some plagiarism (in some meanings the term server is already included). Stephen Ostermiller brought up another good point of the "s" ambiguity. On top of that there are some email (Gmail-standard?) records such as MX record which doesn't do a lot with a "name"... at least intuitively. | |
| Mar 8, 2021 at 15:04 | history | answered | Patrick Mevzek | CC BY-SA 4.0 |