This is a comprehensive guide that will enable you to flush the DNS command cache without any tech support. DNS stands for Domain Name Servers. When a website or a web application is hosted on a server, irrespective of whether it is Linux based or Windows-based, a specific decimal separated series of numbers are assigned to it, which is technically known as IP address. DNS is just like an English translation of these numbers.
When a website address is entered into a web browser it looks for its DNS, which is assigned to the domain on the domain registrar website. It is then translated into the assigned IP address and the request to return the website is made to the server corresponding to that DNS and hence IP address. Learn more about what is a DNS here?
In this article, we will cover the following topics and learn how to flush DNS in Windows, Mac, Linux, etc. So let’s move forward –
The reason to illustrate how DNS works is to make it easier for you to understand how DNS Cache works.
In a quest to improve response time the web browsers store the DNS address of the websites you have already visited. This process is known as DNS Caching.
So, if a website owner has migrated the website to another server with a new DNS (and IP address) you might still be seeing the website from the old server due to DNS cached by your local machine. In order to view the website from a new server, you need to clear the DNS cache from your computer. Sometimes the cache is stored for longer durations, and you won’t be able to see the updated version until the cache is cleared.
It is completely a backend process that a normal user will never come to know. You will not even able to identify it unless you know there is a change on the website which is not displaying to you. So if you have migrated your website to a new server, and have made some changes on your website but you are not able to see those changes on your machine, one of the first diagnostic steps you need to take is to flush DNS cache. You can do it at your browser level, as well as at your Operating System-level using a flush command. We will explain the process in greater detail in the sections below.
Hard Refresh from your Web Browser
Before flushing the DNS you can try to hard refresh the web page you want to access. This will clear the web page cache and this will make your browser look for updated files of the web page.
If you are using Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome on a Windows Operating System you will have to press ‘Ctrl+F5’ on your keyboard.
In case you are using Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome on your Apple/MAC Machine, you will have to press ‘CMD + SHIFT + R’ on your keyboard.
If you are using Apple Safari you will have to enter ‘SHIFT + Reload’.
You can also try to access the page using Incognito Mode (Chrome) or Private Window (Firefox).
If you want to acquire detailed knowledge about Domain Name Servers, you can visit the Wikipedia page for DNS.
Here are the simple steps that will help you flush your DNS Cache all by yourself.
The steps are customized as per your operating system.
1. Click on “Start”. 2. Go to Run option. 3. Type “cmd” and press Enter. 4. Run as Administrator. 5. Type “ipconfig/flushdns”. 6. A message of confirmation will be declared on the screen.
This process will delete all the information stored in the cache. This will force the computer to download new DNS information.
How to Flush DNS Cache
The process of clearing the cache depends on your operating server and browser.
If DNS Flush is unsuccessful, please follow below steps
In terminal enter following command
1
sudo apt install nscd
Once the above command is successful, repeat steps 1 to 4
Flush DNS cache in ubuntu
Steps to flush DNS Cache On Linux CentOS:
Press Ctrl+Alt+T to open the terminal
Enter following Command:
1
nscd-ihosts
To restart DNS service enter following command
1
service nscd restart
4. Clear DNS Cache in Chrome
Steps to clear DNS cache chrome –
Open Google Chrome
In the address bar enter the following address: chrome://net-internals/#dns
It will display the following options:
Click on “Clear host cache” button
5. Clean DNS Cache in Firefox
Steps to Clear Cache in Firefox –
Go to History and click on the Clear History option
Select Cache (along with other relevant options if you want), and click on Clear Now button.
6. Clear Browser Cache for Safari
Steps to clear cache in safari browser –
Go to Advanced Settings options under Preferences
Select the option to display ‘Show Develop menu in menu bar’
It will display an additional option of Develop in browser Menu Options
Under Develop, it will display Empty Caches option
This will clear the DNS Cache
Alternately, if you want to completely Clear the Cache, you can directly click on Clear History under History menu option of your Safari browser
7. Clear Browser Cache for Internet Explorer
Steps to clear cache in Internet Explorer –
Click on the Top Right Icon and Click on Settings
Click on “Choose what to clear” option under Clear browsing data
Select “Cached data and files” option from the menu.
Summary
Based on the Operating System and Browser you are using you can adopt one of the above methods if you encountered any issue
As a step by step procedure you can try these:
Try Hard Refresh of Web Page (Ctrl+F5)
Use Clear Browsing Data option from your Browser’s setting (as mentioned in above steps)
Flush DNS of your Operating System ( Using Command Prompt as mentioned above)
Restart your Modem to reset your internet connection
This will most probably resolve your issue if you are not able to see the updated version of your website recently migrated to a new server. We recommend contacting the tech support of your Hosting Provider if you still facing the issue even after following the above steps.
This is actually important, You’re a remarkably proficient article author. I have registered with your feed and furthermore , anticipate finding your personal good write-ups. Aside from that, We have shared your web sites with our web pages.
Fee the test that your imbue may arouse been a perishing arctic tundra all summer dull, the temperatures nicest are not distinctly from to fiover.propbed.nl/good-life/namen-liefdestest.php start dropping to cuss care into the vicinity modify ego (tonality confab: wellnigh). With diminish favour underway, it’s officially anon a punctually to restock your closet with some tonality pieces that you can rub off model to the guidance and beyond.
Enjoyed examining this, very good stuff, appreciate it.
Thanks, Glad we could add value
This is actually important, You’re a remarkably proficient article author. I have registered with your feed and furthermore , anticipate finding your personal good write-ups. Aside from that, We have shared your web sites with our web pages.
Thanks Scotty, for your kind words 🙂
Fee the test that your imbue may arouse been a perishing arctic tundra all summer dull, the temperatures nicest are not distinctly from to fiover.propbed.nl/good-life/namen-liefdestest.php start dropping to cuss care into the vicinity modify ego (tonality confab: wellnigh). With diminish favour underway, it’s officially anon a punctually to restock your closet with some tonality pieces that you can rub off model to the guidance and beyond.
Glad we could help. Thank you for reading our blog 🙂
This post gives clear idea for the new users of blogging, that in fact
how to do blogging.