One for the tech minded of us; I've been having problems resolving a lot of websites today, most have timed out, and I'm using Google DNS servers (8.8.8.8 & 8.8.4.4). Have changed back to my ISP DNS for now, but its unusual for Google DNS to fail like this. Was toying with the idea of using OpenDNS, are they any good, or more reliable?
Used to have a few of our servers pointing to OpenDNS many moons ago and never had any issues. We have a number currently pointing to 8.8.8.8 and like you find it unusual that they aren't resolving.
I use the default DNS, very rarely do I ever change the DNS servers and even then only if I think there is a serious routing problem. Remember that the further away the servers are the more hops the queries and responses have to go through, unless you have real problems with your ISP their DNS servers will be the closest and fastest, whether they will be truly current depends on their caching algorithm.
Ah that kettle of fish. I almost came to blows with BT Broadband with their "caching". Only by threatening to cancel my contract with them did they instantly solve the "problem".
I've used openDNS in the past when I didn't want to use my ISP DNS servers. However, as pointed out earlier, the DNS servers provided by your ISP will most likely give you better response times and hence performance. Is there a particular reason why you do not want to use default DNS ?
Its because of the hassle I had with BT and their dodgy caching, once bitten twice shy, and all that. However, I'm now with Origin Broadband, and never got round to changing the DNS servers back to ISP default. But all is fine now.
If one lives abroad, in the Philippines say, one might discover that the default DNS provided by Globe and PLDT weren't the fastest or most reliable. I use none of the servers mentioned in this thread, but that's for other reasons entirely