What TTL means?
If you are interested in networking, soon these letters will be in your way: TTL. Better to get familiar with their meaning and purpose now.
What TTL means?
TTL means time-to-live, and it is a value contained in every IP or Internet Protocol data packet to determine its expiration time. The TTL value is defined by network administrators (senders) based on what is more convenient for the network’s operation, higher or lower values. The TTL informs network routers how long the data packet has been around the network for them to allow it or discard it.
How does TTL work?
Every data packet sent from a host (source) to a destination (another host) will get set with a specific TTL value, established in a number of hops, in its IP header.
While traveling to its destination, the data packet will pass through different routers. Each one will reduce the data packet’s TTL value. At a certain point, the TTL value will be zero, and then, routers will discard the data packet and send to the sender an ICMP or Internet Control Message Protocol message to report “time exceeded”.
As you see, the TTL works as a sort of timer for data packets. It helps to control the maximum time or number of hops through the routers for data packets. Meaning they have to accomplish their trip (purpose) within the time defined by the sender. Once expired, they will be discarded.
What are TTL’s purposes?
Prevention of network congestion
The time-to-live value was created to control the amount of data packets circulating on networks. Without such a mechanism, imagine the number of already pointless and old data packets that could be traveling across a single network. This could be a serious obstacle for networks to work efficiently. However, having an expiry date and the means to be stopped, data packets, no matter if they multiply daily per million, can be under control.
Tracing data about data packets
You can trace through the TTL the complete route data packets have followed, and the time they have been circulating within the network.
Detection and mitigation of security threats
Some cyber attacks, like Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS), are executed by sending a large number of data packets with a high TTL value. Remember that the dark purpose is to overwhelm the target. When you (your system) detect such types of data packets, you can set up routers to discard them and mitigate the impact of the malicious attempt.
Avoidance of routing loops
Routing loops are a big issue for networks. Data packets continually routed via the same routers over and over affect the performance of the network and consume resources like bandwidth and processing power. Thanks to the TTL setup on data packets, especially if the values are low, this issue can be stopped and prevented.
Suggested article: Dynamic DNS: Purpose & Benefits
Conclusion
Now, you know what TTL or time-to-live means. It is a versatile mechanism you can use in different ways to ensure the security and efficiency of your network’s operation.
Free Monitoring service – Everything you need to know
Are you thinking about getting a Free Monitoring service? Well done! Monitoring is a very useful and important practice to keep your online business healthy. So let’s go deeper into the topic to explain everything you need to know about it.
What is a Monitoring service?
Monitoring service is the practice of checking in detail, the different aspects and elements (IT infrastructure) your online business involves. The objective is to ensure that everything works as expected and to notify you, through an effective means, when something demands attention or to be fixed. A monitoring service checks and alerts but also collects information about the operation and general behavior of the checked machines.
There are different monitoring services on the market, free and paid ones (with free trials).
Why should you get a Free Monitoring service?
To fast detect downtime. This is essential! If your server is down, users can’t access your domain. The faster you realize and fix this, the fewer losses.
To prevent issues. Some businesses are only reactive. Their IT experts only work on certain issues until a concrete error appears. The problem with this type of operation is that you can always be surprised by malfunctions and other events, like dangerous cyber attacks.
To reduce fixing costs. Waiting until there is a problem, instead of preventing it through a constant Free Monitoring service, can mean expensive and time-consuming processes.
To save time and get a clear infrastructure overview. Commonly, when network administrators don’t have a monitoring service, they check essential infrastructure elements through independent tools. It works, but it takes a lot of time, and this method doesn’t offer you the very useful overview a Free Monitoring service can provide you.
To collect information about the overall operation. Using a Free Monitoring service, you can check your complete network from a single machine and in close to real-time (the free services are not as good as paid ones). If an error, malfunction, disruption, or another event is detected, your IT team will be immediately notified to fix the problem.
Besides, you will have access to important information collected to analyze and understand the issue better and prevent it.
To save money. There are very decent choices of non-paid monitoring services with interesting features to keep your business’ health under surveillance. What you should keep in mind in the word “limits”. Yes, such free services can run checks very well, but advanced features won’t be available for free. They will have a cost.
What features can a Free Monitoring service include?
Features included in a Free Monitoring service will vary based on the provider you pick. Generally speaking, you could get:
- Server and network monitoring. From 1 to more monitors (10, 20, and more).
- From 5-minute to 30-minute uptime checks.
- Response time monitoring.
- HTTPS checks.
- Reports of issues like downtime.
- E-mail, Telegram, SMS, etc, alerts.
- 10 or more monitoring locations.
Conclusion
Free Monitoring services will save you time, money, and many headaches. It is the key to making prevention a reality.
Dynamic DNS: Purpose & Benefits
Dynamic DNS, also generally regarded as DDNS, is a process for regularly updating IP addresses. This DNS service may be helpful to many people. Why? Let’s look into it now.
What is the fundamental purpose of Dynamic DNS?
Dynamic DNS (DDNS) is a Domain Name System service that lets you assign a hostname to a device and associate it with its IP address. So far, it’s a simple A or AAAA record. The dynamic component stems from the fact that you can configure your router to report changes in this device’s IP address and send an update message to the DNS server where the link was established. The IP address of the hostname will be updated there. It is a method of automatically updating a device’s IP address and providing availability without human intervention. You can use Dynamic DNS to ensure that your service is available.
If you do not use this DNS service and wish to use a device to provide a service, you may encounter the following issue. Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) will eventually update your IP address using a dynamic method such as DHCP. As a result, you will receive a new IP address, and all clients need to reconnect. Unfortunately, if you are not close to the device, you may not be aware of the new IP address and may experience prolonged downtime.
Additionally, you can pay for a static IP address and use your device to deliver service without being concerned that the IP address will change. Specifically, there are two issues. First, the price was more than a Dynamic Domain Name System to start. Second, if your IP address is consistent, hackers may have little trouble finding your device. They’ll be aware of it and do everything they can to take advantage of it. An unfavorable situation, isn’t it?
Benefits of implementing it
Some advantages of DDNS include the ones listed below:
- Dynamic DNS is a low-cost option. There are paid and free DDNS service providers. Therefore, it is much less costly than buying static IP addresses for the hardware in your organization.
- Availability – Although the IP address changes, you can still access your system using a constant name in the URL or a VPN.
- Easy to configure. Once you sign up for this service, it will automatically download.
- Installation and maintenance of video surveillance (CCTV cameras) will require a reliable Internet connection. Due to Dynamic DNS, they will remain operational around the clock.
- Dynamic DNS is a top consideration if you’re a corporate owner working remotely with a VPN, need wireless access for devices, or are hosting a website or personal blog.
Conclusion
Finally, you are now familiar with the purpose and main benefits of Dynamic DNS. It only requires a few minutes to set up and is incredibly simple. Most of the time, a free Dynamic DNS provider will suffice your needs, but if you want higher uptime and quality assurance, use a paying provider.
Get familiar with DNS services
If you are looking for DNS services, you may have heard that they may improve domain resolution and enhance the functionality of your website. But how do they manage it? What is a DNS service? No worries. You will now discover.
Understanding of DNS
The Internet phonebook known as Domain Name System (DNS) links domain names to their IP addresses (domain resolution). So, all you need to do is locate the domain’s IP address for your device to load the website’s content.
DNS services – What does this mean?
By providing more servers closer to the customers who can respond more quickly, cloud-based DNS services, both Free DNS and Premium DNS (paid), can help increase the speed of domain resolution (the matching of a domain to its IP address). As a result, you’ll be able to respond to user queries more quickly and with less work on your DNS infrastructure if you have more servers spread across the globe.
Free DNS services: Meaning & Application
Great, we now understand the general characteristics of DNS services. Now let’s go into greater detail about the Free version and its contents.
It has a small number of features in the broadest sense. For instance, this plan frequently has Unicast DNS servers and a cap on DNS zones, records, and requests per month. Additionally, this plan often includes web redirection and Dynamic DNS.
Who is it appropriate for? For websites with little traffic and few queries, this strategy works best. However, a Premium DNS service is your best option if your website receives a lot of traffic. In the section after this one, let’s look at it.
And what does Premium DNS mean?
When talking about the Premium DNS service, you need to pay either monthly or per resource used (number of queries, number of servers, etc.). The best option is to select a monthly membership because you can better manage your spending this way.
Your domain name’s availability and speed will both significantly increase with the premium service. In addition, when you pay, you get a high-quality service from professionals who will make every effort to maintain their DNS network operational nearly 100% of the time as is practical.
So, we can say that with Premium DNS, it’s simple to:
- Reduce the number of error codes and dropped queries.
- Boost the loading and resolution times of the website. (improve the SEO)
- Protect confidential data from hacker activity.
- Protect your website from hackers attempting to reroute it to steal essential consumer data.
In addition, Premium DNS provides the following features:
- Monitoring
- DNSSEC
- DDoS Protection
- Anycast DNS
Conclusion
It’s critical for your business to have a reliable DNS service. You should consider several factors, such as the essential requirements of your website and the hosting environment you envision while selecting the greatest DNS hosting companies for you. Additionally, you should have a broad notion of the features, speed, and dependability you desire in your hosting service. But kindly avoid waiting till the worst occurs. Instead, consider establishing good DNS service to increase redundancy and reduce or stop DDoS attacks. Best of luck!