Enabling DNS caching on a MikroTik device can be very useful for several reasons, especially in networks where efficiency and speed of access to Internet resources are important.

We explain some benefits and considerations when activating the DNS cache in MikroTik:

Benefits of DNS Cache

1. Performance improvement: By storing responses from recent DNS queries, DNS caching allows subsequent requests to the same domain names to be resolved more quickly, reducing the wait time for users to access websites and other online resources.
2. Reduced load on external DNS servers: Serving responses from the local cache reduces the number of requests sent to external DNS servers, which can help reduce the load on those servers and potentially improve the overall stability of the DNS service.
3. Improved user experience: Reduction in DNS resolution times can translate into faster web browsing for end users, thereby improving the overall perception of network speed.
4. Resiliency during external DNS outages: In case the configured DNS servers are temporarily unreachable, having a DNS cache can allow users to continue accessing some websites and online services whose addresses have been recently cached.

Considerations

• DNS updates: DNS records have a time to live (TTL) that determines how long they are stored in the cache. It is important to ensure that the cache respects this TTL to avoid resolution problems due to outdated information.
• Security: Make sure to properly configure security policies around the DNS server in MikroTik to prevent DNS cache poisoning attacks, where attackers may attempt to insert fake responses into the cache to redirect users to malicious sites.
• Storage capacity: Although DNS caching generally does not require much memory, on networks with a high volume of DNS requests, it is important to monitor resource usage to ensure that the MikroTik device has enough capacity to handle the cache effectively.

How to activate the DNS cache in MikroTik

Activating and configuring the DNS cache in MikroTik is relatively simple through WinBox or the command line interface (CLI).

You need to ensure that the DNS service is enabled and properly configured to listen for DNS requests from your network and configure forwarders if you want uncached queries to be sent to specific DNS servers.

In summary, activating DNS caching in MikroTik can offer significant improvements in the efficiency and speed of access to Internet resources, contributing to a more satisfactory user experience and more effective network management.