mDNS
Multicast DNS: machines on one local network answer name questions for .local names themselves, without a DNS server.
In more detail
On Linux, Avahi provides it and mdns4_minimal in nsswitch.conf plugs it into ordinary lookups. Printers and laptops use it to find each other.
Related terms
- DNS — The system that turns names such as learnsome.tech into IP addresses.
- nsswitch.conf — The file /etc/nsswitch.conf, which sets the order of sources, such as files then DNS, for looking up hosts, users and groups.
Taught in
- Client DNS: Files First, Then The Server — LPIC-1 Linux Administrator (101-500 and 102-500) Exam Prep