RDNS, Reverse DNS, addresses the process of using standard DNS to configure IP address into standard host names. It will also determine a host name for related host name from a given host address for an IP address. In more simple terms, Reverse DNS works much like a reverse phone directory. For example, the IP address 000.0.0.00 will produce a web address of www.forexample.com. Typical computer domains begin with the name of the company the domain is listed with. This means that every one can view your domain and you have the ability to send them too whichever IP address you like. RDNS works in much the same way. A typical RDNS starts when you register your ISP. Everyone has the ability to look up your ISP’s RDNS entries.

There are two main steps for RDNS and DNS.
1. Aquire DNS servers.
2. Inform the correct company where you have placed your own DNS servers.

A typical DNS search is used to determine which specific IP address is connected to a specific hostname. Conversly, an RDNS search is used to determine which hostname is connected to a particular IP address. RDNS searches are run for a variety of reasons. Thes include analytics and security. Additionally, some mass mailing systems use RDNS to verify dual look-ups: address-host and host-address.

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One of the most basic computer concepts is the internet protocol address (IP Addresses). This is a series of numbers separated by periods. The series typically follows the format xx.xxx.xxx.xx. These unique addresses make the intricate and complex process of sending data over the tnternet to specific recipients possible. Unfortunately, this series of number’s can be difficult to memorize. To compensate, domain names are used in place of IP addresses. The Domain Name System, or DNS, is the unique system that translates domain names like www.yahoo.com and www.google.com into the specialized code known as IP addresses. Understanding the process behind this system is important.

Basics of DNS

Domain Name System Basics

The DNS system is much like a pyramid. The foundation of the pyramid is the end user. Next, is the DNS query. This stage is reached when the end user inputs a web address into their web browser. The next level involves your ISP sending that request, or website address, to the DNS servers (.net, .com, .us). The top of the pyramid is the DNS server sending the query out for the location.

More simply, the System Works like this:
1. End user enters forexample.com into their web browser.
2. Internet Service provider looks for DNS name server.
3. The DNS .com name server looks at the root server.
4. The query is sent to the applicable website and it appears on the end user’s web browser.

Domain Name System Resource Records

This system is aided by DNS resource records. These resources provide the directions for internet search traffic. There are three common types of resource records, each with its own unique function.

1. A Records – more commonly known as the “host address” because when an end user submits a query by entering in a web site address, the A Record directs that query to the correct IP address.
2. CName Records – are more commonly referred to as an “alias.” They do not have the ability to direct a user to the correct IP address; instead, CName Records direct users to a different record for the query answer.
3. MX Records – more commonly known as “mail exchange” because they define a SMTP server for the particular domain so that each mail server will know where, in a domain, to deliver email.

There are several other common Domain Name System Resource Records. These include: PTR, TXT, NS and SRV.

Domain Name System Zones

To make data more manageable, it is often broken into sets or ‘zones.’ These ‘zones’ will include the name and the IP address for one or more portions of a domain. The main server will contain all of the data for a particular zone, but the zone data is most often saved on several different servers apart from the main server.

This is helpful because the ’secondary’ servers allow owners to carefully balance the demands placed on their servers and also provides an emergency backup in the case of server failure.

There are four main zone types.

1. Primary – This is often called the “master zone.” Primary zones may contain additional sub zones that include DNS resource record information.
2. Secondary – This is often called “slave zone.” This is because their primary function is to load data from the main server to a secondary server.
4. Stub – A stub zone is similar to a secondary zone. The main difference is the stub zone transfers NS records.
4. Forward – The forward zone simply forwards queries for a zone to different servers.

DNS is much more than a system for browsing the web. It many complex functions allow for a seamless browsing experience.

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If your company’s System Administration team disabled access to the USB Ports. This means that your iPods, Digital Cameras and USB flash drives are totally without use in the workplace.

As stated by the Microsoft knowledge base article 823732, which contains instructions on disabling USB storage access for a group of users, disabling and re-enabling of USB ports is just based on a simple registry entry.

To disable the access to USB port, for windows XP and 2000, simply follow the steps written below:

1. Go to the Start button of your desktop and then click on Run.

2. In the Run field, type in regedit and click OK or press Enter on the keyboard.

3. Look for, and then click on the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetServicesUsbStor

4. In the right pane of the window, double-click the Start option.

5. In the Value data box, type in the number 4, click Hexadecimal (if it is not already selected by default), and then click OK or press Enter.

6. Leave and close the Registry Editor window.

To re-enable a disabled port, just follow the steps below:

1. Click on the Start button, and again, select Run.

2. In the Run field, type regedit, and click OK or press Enter.

3. Look for, and then click on the following registry key.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetServicesUsbStor

4. In the right pane of the window, double-click the Start option.

5. In the Value data box, type in 3, click Hexadecimal (if it is not already selected by default), and click OK or hit Enter on the keyboard.

6. Leave and close the Registry Editor window.

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Recently, Mozilla Firefox released its latest version in more than 70 languages.  Firefox 3.5 is rapidly spreading throughout the world because of some of the totally unique features that it includes.  While some of these unique features are designed with developers in mind, version 3.5 is a worthwhile upgrade for any web browsers.  The top five best new features that are included in the latest release are sure to increase anyone’s web browsing experience.

1.  Trace Monkey:  A New Java Script Engine

Trace monkey is guaranteed to increase performance when running any web page or application that is JavaScript heavy.  Pages such as Meebo or Google Docs will simple run faster and smother under Trace Monkey. While it isn’t the fastest currently available browser available (Apple’s Safari or Google’s Chrome generally hold that honor); it is a vast improvement over Mozilla’s previous release.  In fact, Trace Monkey can double the speed of JavaScript performance over their previous version.

2.  Browsing Based on Location Awareness

Firefox 3.5  added a unique feature – location based browsing.  This feature, which you can turn off or on, allows Firefox to use your internet protocol address and any nearby wireless points to determine your geographical location.  The browser then uses this information to give you a personalized and unique browsing experience.

For example, a national grocery store chain may offer you specials and coupons that can be redeemed at your local neighborhood franchise location.  Flickr uses this function especially well on their map page.  They use the location awareness tool to locate your computer and show you pictures from people in your local area.

For those of us concerned about privacy Firefox’s location awareness feature is actually quite benign.  Firefox will only share your geographical information with web sites previously approved by you.  Additionally, your random client identifier information is deleted after a period of two weeks.  Firefox further protects you by not sending information regarding your browsing history to any web sites.  Don’t forget this feature can easily be turned off.

3.  Downloadable fonts and HTML 5

While many of the new features supported by Firefox 3.5 are aimed at web developers and other computer geeks, new technology like CSS @font-face rule and HTML 5 will make a big difference for the end user.

HTML 5 includes both video and audio elements and allows web developers to directly embed media into web pages much as the web browser plugin Flash does.

CSS @font-face rule allows web designers to link fonts directly to web pages using CSS.  Simply put, web developers will no longer be hindered by fonts that are deemed ‘web safe.’  This will open up a whole new world of web design in which any font can be used even if that particular font is not installed on a user’s system.

4.  Windows and Tabs

Another great feature of Firefox 3.5 is an upgrade to the functionality of windows and tabs.  Previous versions allowed users to recover the most recently closed tab.  Unfortunately, if you closed a window in error, you were out of luck.  Firefox 3.5 allows you to choose from a list of tabs and windows you have recently closed and reopen them.

Along the same lines is tab tearing.  This feature is similar to one used by Google Chrome.  It allows you to tear a tab from the window you are currently viewing and place in its own unique window.  This function also allows you to move a window right into a group of tabbed pages.  This functionality allows you to manage multiple open web pages easily.

5.  Privacy Protected Browsing

Firefox 3.5 makes great strides in it private browsing functionality.  This feature is similar to ones found in Internet Explorer, Safari and Chrome.  Using the private browsing feature, Firefox will not save your searches, browses, downloads or even web forms.  History, cookies and temporary files are also ‘forgotten.’

Don’t forget that there is a difference between private browsing and anonymous browsing.  Your internet service provider may still record where you have been, what sites you logged onto and what you did.

Firefox 3.5 provides a nice ‘warning’ screen when you enter this mode.   It also hides all of your currently open tabs for later use.  This can be a bit disconcerting – it looks like Firefox restarted – until you get used to it.

A final feature to protect your privacy when browsing is the “Forget About This Site” feature.  This feature makes is easy to delete a single web page located in your browser history.  Other functions, similar to Google’s Chrome will allow you to pick a time range for clearing history items like downloads, browsing, forms, cache and cookies.

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Your cell phone is for so much more than just making calls and getting text messages. Below are seven funny and unique tricks for your cell phone!

1. 1-800-FREE-411

All mobile providers offer you directory assistance, but at a pretty steep price. This service is completely free – you just have to listen to a brief advertisement – well worth the money you will save in 411 charges

2. 1-888-FRUCALL

Every wonder if you are getting the best deal on a purchase? Dial 1-888-FRUCALL from your mobile phone and find out. By just entering the UPC code, the service will tell you not only what it is you are trying to buy, but what it retails for online.

3. 1-800-555-TELL

Call this number and listen to a few simple menus and gain access to a wealth of information. Sports scores, stock quotes, news and more are all available – for free!

4. GOOGLE

This system works a lot like 1-800-555-TELL, except it works with TEXT messages instead voice prompts. Just send a text to GOOGLE with your question and get a prompt response. Try “Mexican Restaurants, Detroit,” “define karaoke” or “Weather 34604,’ and get a free response via text.

5. 1-866-411-SONG

Next time you are listening to the radio and can’t figure out the name of the song, call 1-866-411-SONG and just hold your phone near the speaker. You will soon receive a text message that includes not just the name of the song, but also the name of the artist. The service is free to start, but you will charge eventually!

6. 112

In case of emergency, dial 112 – even if you have no service or have a locked keypad!

7. Popularity Dialer

Never get stuck in a meeting or with a bad date again. Popularity Dialer is a student-funding, completely free service that allows you to schedule an ‘interruption’ for your next meeting of blind date. Choose from a variety of voices and scenario’s, enter your number and time to be called and Popularity Dialer will do just that!!

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Its been a long time since I have written on Windows XP. So, I just came up with this one, its quite simple. Open a text file in notepad and copy the following code:

Dim msg, stp
msg=InputBox(”Enter your text”,”Talk it”)
Set stp=CreateObject(”sapi.spvoice”)
stp.Speak msg

Give the file .vbs extension, this will create a VBScript File.
Then, once you click on the .vbs file, it would prompt you for a text. Type in the text and click on enter.

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