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DNS (Domain Name Service) is a mechanism used on the Internet to map numeric IP addresses to text names. Whenever domain information is received from the DNS server, it is cached on the local computer for later use.
Caching DNS on your local computer provides quick access to any domain and reduces the load on the DNS server by reducing the number of calls to it. However, caching also has its disadvantages, which is reflected in the inability to open a site if the IP address to which the domain name refers changes. This problem becomes obvious if the site loads easily by using a proxy server.
When a problem like this occurs, one way to resolve it is to clear the DNS cache on the local computer. To clear the DNS cache in Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7, follow these instructions:
1. Click the Start button and select Run. In the dialog box that opens, type cmd and press Enter.
2. In the command line that opens, type ipconfig /flushdns and press Enter, which will clear the DNS cache.
