The Domain Name System (DNS) is a distributed Internet directory service. DNS is used mostly to translate between domain names and IP addresses, and to control Internet email delivery.
RfC s http://www.dns.net/dnsrd/rfc/
http://www.internic.net/faqs/authoritative-dns.html
What is the Domain Name System?
The Domain Name System (DNS) helps users to find their way around the Internet. Every computer on the Internet has a unique address û just like a telephone number û which is a rather complicated string of numbers. It is called its "IP address" (IP stands for "Internet Protocol").
But it is hard to remember everyone's IP address. The DNS makes it easier by allowing a familiar string of letters (the "domain name") to be used instead of the arcane IP address. So instead of typing 192.0.34.65, you can type www.icann.org. It is a "mnemonic" device that makes addresses easier to remember.
Translating the name into the IP address is called "resolving the domain name." The goal of the DNS is for any Internet user any place in the world to reach a specific website IP address by entering its domain name. Domain names are also used for reaching e-mail addresses and for other Internet applications.
How Does It Work[edit]
The DNS uses a siries of [Doted Nameserver]s. Your local name server will first forward your request on to the 'root' or '.' name servers, these serves reply with the addresss of the next '.' server (these are usualy called the Top Level Domain (TLD) servers). Your local DNS will then query the TLD server to find the next '.' server. this procedes untill your local DNS Client gets a respone from the DNS server which stores the actual name / address you requested.
Ill expand on this more soon =)
Some Helpfull links[edit]
A nice public DNS
4.2.2.2
A list of nameless or . DNS's
http://www.internic.net/zones/named.root
A List of TLD DNS's (or look up hosts serving TLD's)
http://www.internic.net/zones/root.zone
A list of RDNS's (or look up the first octet of an IP)
http://www.internic.net/zones/inaddr.zone
in german this also stands for DesoxyriboNukleinSauere