After spending 8 years as a network administrator supporting over 2,000 users, I’ve resolved countless DNS problems. The good news? Most DNS issues have simple fixes that take less than 5 minutes. Just last month, I helped my neighbor who thought her internet was “completely broken”—turns out it was just a DNS problem that required changing two numbers in her network settings. This guide walks you through identifying and fixing DNS problems using the same methodical approach I use professionally.
After helping thousands of customers troubleshoot internet connectivity issues over my 12 years as a network engineer, I can confidently say that most slow internet problems have simple solutions. You don’t need to be technically savvy to fix them—you just need to know where to look. Last week alone, I helped three neighbors solve their “terrible internet” problems, and in each case, the fix took less than 10 minutes. This guide walks you through the exact troubleshooting process I use to identify and resolve slow internet issues, from the simplest fixes to more complex solutions.
The internet, a global network of interconnected systems, relies on a complex system of protocols to route traffic efficiently. At its core lies the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), the routing protocol that glues the internet together, enabling data to traverse autonomous systems (ASes) and reach its destination. While BGP has been instrumental in the internet’s growth, its fundamental trust-based architecture leaves it vulnerable to a critical threat: BGP hijacking. This article examines the mechanics of BGP hijacking, introduces the Resource Public Key Infrastructure (RPKI) as a powerful defense mechanism, and explores how its increasing adoption is safeguarding the internet’s routing integrity.
The internet, a vast interconnected web, relies on a fundamental concept known as IP addresses for device identification and communication. With the rapid expansion of connected devices, especially with the proliferation of IoT and mobile technology, the finite supply of IPv4 addresses presented a significant challenge. To overcome this, network engineers developed ingenious solutions: Network Address Translation (NAT) and its ubiquitous variant, Port Address Translation (PAT). These technologies are not just technical curiosities; they are foundational to how billions of devices access the internet daily, conserving IP address space and enhancing network security.