In the guide on how a router works, we also explained how the Internet works globally and how computers are connected within linked networks. The architecture that supports the Internet is quite complex, with data packets that have to go through different paths until they reach us.
If, therefore, it was possible to optimize these roads, one could theoretically improve the speed of the internet connection at home. Of these roads there are some that depend on the country in which we are located, some that depend on the internet provider and some that depend on the devices we use. Among the various possibilities, one on which it is actually possible to act is that of DNS servers .
What DNS servers are for and what they are
Whenever a computer asks to visit a website, on the Chrome web browser or any other, one must write the address of the site which can be Google.it or Navigaweb.net. What happens when the request to visit a site is sent from the browser is a connection to the IP address of the server that contains the data of the requested site. The association between the IP address of the site and its address that we write on the browser is made by the DNS servers, computers located all over the world that contain a directory of names and addresses.
In other words, to go to a site, the browser queries the DNS server configured in the parameters of the internet connection asking where the site is located. If there was no DNS ( Domain Name Server ), to go to google.it it would be necessary to write something like 173.194.35.183 on the browser's address bar, quite difficult to remember.
DNS servers are reachable from every computer and are usually assigned automatically by the telephone company that provides the internet connection (for example Fastweb or TIM). Usually, however, these automatically assigned DNS servers are not the fastest in the world therefore, one way of optimizing the Internet is to find and use, for your connection, the fastest and most efficient DNS servers, those that respond more quickly to requests and maybe even that they don't filter sites for censorship reasons.
To find out which DNS you are using, you can open a DOS command prompt and write the ipconfig / all command.
In Windows 10 you can see the DNS used by going to Settings> network and internet, then on Status, click on the right side the link " View network properties ".
To see the DNS servers in Windows 7 and 8.1, however, you must open the Control Panel> Network and Internet, then go to the Network Connection Center, press the Ethernet or Wifi link in the center of the page in the connection section with access to internet and then on the Details button.
Scroll down the list, select the Internet Protocol version 4, click on Properties, put the selection on " Use the following DNS servers " and, finally, write the primary and secondary DNS servers by hand. Press OK and Close.
In Windows 10 the same thing can also be done by opening Settings> Network and Internet, select Wifi or Ethernet according to the type of network used for the internet connection and press the Change adapter options link. Here press on the network card used to browse, then go to Properties, select Internet Protocol version 4, press Properties and change the DNS servers without being set automatically.
Which DNS servers to use "> faster and safer DNS addresses . Among these, the Google DNS servers (primary DNS 8.8.8.8 and as secondary DNS 8.8.4.4 ) and the CLoudflare DNS servers (Primary 1.1.1.1 and secondary are very popular and reliable . 1.0.0.1 ).
If you want to be sure that you are using faster servers, you can use a program that does the checking for us. One of these is DNSJumper, the other is DNSAngel, similar and from the same company. With these programs you can quickly change the DNS servers of your internet connection without going into the network settings.
For more details, go to the guide on how to change DNS on PC, Mac and Router,
If changing DNS isn't enough to make your internet connection faster, we've seen other ways to improve internet browsing in other articles:
- Hidden tricks on Windows to speed up the internet.
- Increase internet speed with automatic accelerator
- Faster connection and lower network latency by reducing the connection time (Ping)
READ ALSO: What slows down the network speed (wifi or wired) and the internet connection
If, therefore, it was possible to optimize these roads, one could theoretically improve the speed of the internet connection at home. Of these roads there are some that depend on the country in which we are located, some that depend on the internet provider and some that depend on the devices we use. Among the various possibilities, one on which it is actually possible to act is that of DNS servers .
What DNS servers are for and what they are
Whenever a computer asks to visit a website, on the Chrome web browser or any other, one must write the address of the site which can be Google.it or Navigaweb.net. What happens when the request to visit a site is sent from the browser is a connection to the IP address of the server that contains the data of the requested site. The association between the IP address of the site and its address that we write on the browser is made by the DNS servers, computers located all over the world that contain a directory of names and addresses.
In other words, to go to a site, the browser queries the DNS server configured in the parameters of the internet connection asking where the site is located. If there was no DNS ( Domain Name Server ), to go to google.it it would be necessary to write something like 173.194.35.183 on the browser's address bar, quite difficult to remember.
DNS servers are reachable from every computer and are usually assigned automatically by the telephone company that provides the internet connection (for example Fastweb or TIM). Usually, however, these automatically assigned DNS servers are not the fastest in the world therefore, one way of optimizing the Internet is to find and use, for your connection, the fastest and most efficient DNS servers, those that respond more quickly to requests and maybe even that they don't filter sites for censorship reasons.
How to see the DNS servers used
To find out which DNS you are using, you can open a DOS command prompt and write the ipconfig / all command.
In Windows 10 you can see the DNS used by going to Settings> network and internet, then on Status, click on the right side the link " View network properties ".
To see the DNS servers in Windows 7 and 8.1, however, you must open the Control Panel> Network and Internet, then go to the Network Connection Center, press the Ethernet or Wifi link in the center of the page in the connection section with access to internet and then on the Details button.
How to change the DNS servers of your internet connection
To change the DNS servers on a Windows 10 and Windows 7 PC, you can open the Control Panel. From the Network and Internet section, open the Network Connection Center and then click on the link on the left where Change card settings is written. Then press the right button on the network card connected and used to surf the internet and access the Properties .Scroll down the list, select the Internet Protocol version 4, click on Properties, put the selection on " Use the following DNS servers " and, finally, write the primary and secondary DNS servers by hand. Press OK and Close.
In Windows 10 the same thing can also be done by opening Settings> Network and Internet, select Wifi or Ethernet according to the type of network used for the internet connection and press the Change adapter options link. Here press on the network card used to browse, then go to Properties, select Internet Protocol version 4, press Properties and change the DNS servers without being set automatically.
Which DNS servers to use "> faster and safer DNS addresses . Among these, the Google DNS servers (primary DNS 8.8.8.8 and as secondary DNS 8.8.4.4 ) and the CLoudflare DNS servers (Primary 1.1.1.1 and secondary are very popular and reliable . 1.0.0.1 ).
If you want to be sure that you are using faster servers, you can use a program that does the checking for us. One of these is DNSJumper, the other is DNSAngel, similar and from the same company. With these programs you can quickly change the DNS servers of your internet connection without going into the network settings.
For more details, go to the guide on how to change DNS on PC, Mac and Router,
If changing DNS isn't enough to make your internet connection faster, we've seen other ways to improve internet browsing in other articles:
- Hidden tricks on Windows to speed up the internet.
- Increase internet speed with automatic accelerator
- Faster connection and lower network latency by reducing the connection time (Ping)
READ ALSO: What slows down the network speed (wifi or wired) and the internet connection
