Configure Network Services - MCSA Windows Server 2012 R2: Installation and Configuration Study Guide - page 67

figure 2.5 A sample DNS query

Iterative
queries

Root
name
server

2

3

Local
name
server

4
5

Gov
name
server

Recursive
query

1 8

6

7

DNS
client

Whitehouse.go v
name server

Here's what happens to resolve the request:
1. The resolver sends a recursive DNS query to its local DNS server asking for the IP
address of www.whitehouse.gov . The local name server is responsible for resolving the
name, and it cannot refer the resolver to another name server.
2. The local name server checks its zones, and it finds no zones corresponding to the
requested domain name.
3. The root name server has authority for the root domain, and it will reply with the IP
address of a name server for the .gov top-level domain.
4. The local name server sends an iterative query for www.whitehouse.gov to the Gov
name server.
5. The Gov name server replies with the IP address of the name server servicing the
whitehouse.gov domain.
6. The local name server sends an iterative query for www.whitehouse.gov to the
whitehouse.gov name server.
7. The whitehouse.gov name server replies with the IP address corresponding to
www.whitehouse.gov .

8. The local name server sends the IP address of www.whitehouse.gov back to the original

resolver.