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How to Fix the “Temporary failure in name resolution” Error?

Encountering the “Temporary failure in name resolution” error can be frustrating, especially when accessing the internet for something urgent. This error typically occurs in Unix-like operating systems such as Linux, indicating that the system struggles to resolve a domain name to its corresponding IP address. This guide will provide detailed steps on how to fix the “Temporary failure in name resolution” error.

“Temporary failure in name resolution” Error Causes

There could be many reasons for what causes the “Temporary failure in name resolution” error. Look below:

Incorrect DNS Configuration

Your system’s DNS settings might be misconfigured. This can cause the “Temporary failure in name resolution” error.

Network Issues

Problems with your network connection can prevent DNS resolution. Hence, the “Temporary failure in name resolution” error can occur.

Firewall or Security Settings

Overly restrictive firewall settings can block DNS requests – welcoming the “Temporary failure in name resolution” error.

DNS Server Issues

The DNS server you are using might be down or experiencing problems. Therefore, the “Temporary failure in name resolution” error.

How to Fix the “Temporary failure in name resolution” Error?

Check Your Network Connection

You must be sure that your network connection is active. A simple way to test this is by pinging a known IP address, such as Google’s DNS server:

bash

ping 8.8.8.8

If you receive responses, your network connection is working. If not, you need to troubleshoot your network connection.

Verify DNS Configuration

The next step is to check your DNS configuration. The DNS servers your system uses are typically listed in the /etc/resolv.conf file. Open this file using a text editor like nano or vi:

bash

sudo nano /etc/resolv.conf

You should see lines similar to this:

plaintext

nameserver 8.8.8.8

nameserver 8.8.4.4

Add or update the nameserver entries if the file is empty or the DNS servers are incorrect. Google’s public DNS servers (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4) are a good choice for reliable DNS resolution.

Restart the Network Service

After updating the DNS configuration, restart your network service to apply the changes. On most Linux distributions, you can do this with the following command:

bash

sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager

Alternatively, you can use the service command:

bash

sudo service network-manager restart

Check Firewall Settings

Firewalls can sometimes block DNS traffic. To check if your firewall is causing the issue, temporarily disable it and see if the problem is still there. Use the following command to disable the firewall on systems using ufw:

bash

sudo ufw disable

If disabling the firewall resolves the issue, you must adjust your firewall rules to allow DNS traffic (port 53).

Verify Network Interface Configuration

Incorrect network interface settings can also cause DNS resolution issues. Check your network interface configuration file, usually located at /etc/network/interfaces or in the /etc/netplan directory on newer distributions like Ubuntu.

Open the configuration file and ensure the DNS settings are correctly specified. For example, a typical entry might look like this:

plaintext

iface eth0 inet static

    address 192.168.1.100

    netmask 255.255.255.0

    gateway 192.168.1.1

    dns-nameservers 8.8.8.8 8.8.4.4

If the DNS settings are missing or incorrect, add or update them accordingly.

Update Your System

Sometimes, the issue can be due to a bug in the system’s network components. Be sure your system is updated by running the following commands:

bash

sudo apt update

sudo apt upgrade

This will fetch and install the latest updates for your system, potentially resolving the DNS resolution issue.

Use a Different DNS Resolver

If the problem persists, consider using a different DNS resolver. In addition to Google’s DNS, other reliable options include Cloudflare’s DNS (1.1.1.1) and OpenDNS (208.67.222.222). You can specify these DNS servers in the /etc/resolv.conf file:

plaintext

nameserver 1.1.1.1

nameserver 1.0.0.1

Persistent Changes to resolv.conf

Changes to /etc/resolv.conf can be overwritten by network managers. To make persistent changes, configure the network manager itself. For NetworkManager, you can create a configuration file:

bash

sudo nano /etc/NetworkManager/conf.d/dns.conf

Add the following content to specify DNS servers:

plaintext

[main]

dns=none

[global-dns]

nameservers=8.8.8.8;8.8.4.4;

Save and close the file – then restart NetworkManager:

bash

sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager

Debugging with dig & nslookup

Tools like dig and nslookup can help diagnose DNS resolution issues. Install these tools if they are not already present:

bash

sudo apt install dnsutils

Use dig to query a domain:

bash

dig example.com

Look for the ANSWER SECTION to see if the domain resolves correctly. Similarly, use nslookup:

bash

nslookup example.com

These tools provide detailed output to help identify where the resolution process is failing.

Conclusion

The “Temporary failure in name resolution” error can occur due to various issues ranging from DNS configuration errors to network connectivity problems. Check & adjust your network and DNS settings to resolve this error and restore proper name resolution. Remember the points mentioned in this post. Using the correct tools – you can fix this error, no big deal.

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FAQs

Q1. What is the “Temporary failure in name resolution” error?

This error indicates that your system cannot resolve a domain name to its corresponding IP address.

Q2. How can I check my DNS configuration?

You can check your DNS configuration by opening the /etc/resolv.conf file and ensure it contains correct nameserver entries.

Q3. What should I do if my firewall is blocking DNS traffic?

Temporarily disable the firewall using sudo ufw disable and see if DNS resolution works. If it does, adjust your firewall rules to allow DNS traffic on port 53.

Q4. How do I restart my network service after changing DNS settings?

Use sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager or sudo service network-manager restart to restart your network service.

Q5. What DNS servers can I use if my current ones are not working?

You can use public DNS servers like Google’s (8.8.8.8, 8.8.4.4), Cloudflare’s (1.1.1.1, 1.0.0.1), or OpenDNS (208.67.222.222).

Q6. What tools can help diagnose DNS resolution issues?

Dig and nslookup tools can help diagnose DNS resolution issues by providing detailed query results.

Q7. What if I still need help to fix the error?

If you need help with this error or any hosting-related issues or services. Connect with Leasepacket. Leasepacket is a renowned security & hosting services provider.