What happens when we type in a URL.

[test]

Hi All,

What happens when we type a URL in the url box. FOr ex, when we type say
www.hotmail.com, I believe the request will go to some central server,where
it knows that hotmail.com is mapped to so and so ipaddress and then the
files are obtained from that ipaddress.

The questions where is the central database/locations. Can some throw any
ideas on this.

Thanks.

[Patrick Keenan]

"test" <laks...@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:v8idnfccmb7MG9Xa...@comcast.com...

It's called DNS, Domain Name System, and there is a lot of information on it
via Google. Exactly which DNS server you use at a particular moment
depends on your ISP at the moment.

HTH
-pk

[Ken Blake, MVP]

On Sat, 24 Nov 2007 12:15:13 -0800, "test" <laks...@comcast.net>
wrote:

> Hi All,
>
> What happens when we type a URL in the url box. FOr ex, when we type say
> www.hotmail.com, I believe the request will go to some central server,

That's correct. It's called a DNS (Domain Name System) Server.

> where
> it knows that hotmail.com is mapped to so and so ipaddress and then the
> files are obtained from that ipaddress.

Also correct. The "real" address of the web site is that IP address,
not the URL.

> The questions where is the central database/locations. Can some throw any
> ideas on this.

Usually the DNS Server is one automatically provided by your ISP, but
you can specify a different one in the Network Connections dialog.
Seldom is it necessary to use any but the one your ISP Provides.

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

[test]

So does that mean that every ISP will have a DNS server,and where is this
running. That is the whole piont I am not understanding.

I thought there should only be one DNS server running at a central location
which maps names to ip addresses(and all the requests regarding which ISP's
they are from should go to that server). Regardless there should be only
central database which maps domain names to ip addresses. Please share your
thoughts.

Thnx.

"Ken Blake, MVP" <kbl...@this.is.am.invalid.domain> wrote in message
news:pg3hk353qi8gahgjm...@4ax.com...

[Ken Blake, MVP]

On Sat, 24 Nov 2007 14:16:49 -0800, "test" <laks...@comcast.net>
wrote:

> So does that mean that every ISP will have a DNS server,

"Every" is a very strong word that I'm always reluctant to use. I
wouldn't be surprised if some don't and share another ISP's server.
Still the answer to your question is generally yes.

> and where is this
> running.

At the ISP's site.

> That is the whole piont I am not understanding.
>
> I thought there should only be one DNS server running at a central location

No, there are many. I assume that they somehow communicate with each
other, so that they all contain essentially the same information, but
I don't know the specifics of how that is done.

[Singapore Web Design]

Hello,

See
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/web-server.htm/printable

--
Singapore Web Design
http://www.bootstrike.com/Webdesign/
Singapore Web Hosting
http://www.bootstrike.com/WinXP/faq.html
Windows XP FAQ

"test" <laks...@comcast.net> wrote in message
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