DNS and ping

tsunami231 · *Last edited by tsunami231; 07-31-2012 at 22:00.*

Stupid question as i not completely sure on this, But can your DNS servers effect your ping in games or cause ping spikes? or is that completely unrelated?

Around same time I start changing dns server for faster ones one games pings start jumping from 39ms and 100ms and higher regulerly and i trying to find out if it related or just the game servers being the cause

Black_ice_Spain · 07-31-2012, 22:02 | posts: 4,164 | Location: Spain

i think unrelated, DNS may affect the first connection/packet, since you have to ask for the real IP behind the server domain, but no more (plus i think servers register with IP directly).

tsunami231 · 07-31-2012, 22:59 | posts: 2,371 | Location: USA

thats what i am thinking, As i i know dns effect your connection speed to websites and all that but once it connected it would not and should not matter in the case of online games. but i wasnt sure so i fqure i would ask

Mufflore · 07-31-2012, 23:43 | posts: 9,833 | Location: UK

Ping is calculated as the time it takes to send a signal and get a response.
In order for the ping command to send the signal, it must already know where it is going, so the IP is already known.

DNS occurs (if needed) before a ping signal is sent and doesnt affect ping times.

Games dont use ping, they will likely do a DNS lookup the first time the connection is made or use hard coded IPs.

tsunami231 · 08-01-2012, 01:27 | posts: 2,371 | Location: USA

im a take that as no, dns server should have nothing to do with ping being all over the place in mmos

Mineria · 08-01-2012, 06:49 | posts: 2,897 | Location: Denmark

DNS only tells your PC the IP of a domain labeled PC.
Traffic direction is handeled by routers and switches.
So higher latency is not caused by name resolution but by either the servers, your PC or a router on the path, it's rare that a switch will cause it.
Distance on networks with the same bandwidth also affects latency.
Which mmo is this about?
Lag can also be caused of higher population.

tsunami231 · 08-01-2012, 19:55 | posts: 2,371 | Location: USA

Swtor MMO in last week or 2 my ping been going from its average of 39ms to 100ms or higher at random. but then alot people on server complain about lag and lag spikes so i think it the server, I just want to make sure it wasnt the dns cause I changed then around same time the lag started. thanks for all the info guys

Mufflore · 08-01-2012, 20:02 | posts: 9,833 | Location: UK

I dont know how swtor functions under the hood, but if it regularly does a DNS lookup (it could be programmed to do this), there is a possibility of delays should the DNS lookup take time or fail.
Thats speculation though.

Given that you are experiencing slow ping times, it looks like there is another issue.
Have you considered that Olympic traffic might have an impact, did the problem start about 5 days ago?

tsunami231 · 08-01-2012, 22:57 | posts: 2,371 | Location: USA

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mufflore

I dont know how swtor functions under the hood, but if it regularly does a DNS lookup (it could be programmed to do this), there is a possibility of delays should the DNS lookup take time or fail.
Thats speculation though.

Given that you are experiencing slow ping times, it looks like there is another issue.
Have you considered that Olympic traffic might have an impact, did the problem start about 5 days ago?

5 days ago is round about time when guru3d start to time out frequently and have super slow page loading. on the other hand swtor been like this a little longer