Easily view local DNS cache on Windows
DNS Cache Viewer is a free network tool created by indie dev Michael J. Burns for PC. This Windows utility lets users view the local DNS cache stored by the operating system. This program can help troubleshoot network issues relating to possibly invalid website names or IP addresses.
Similar to DNS Benchmark, DNS Cache Viewer provides users a simple overview of their DNS data to determine if the performance of their internet connection is being affected in any way. It also gives them the option to flush the cache to clear everything out and rebuild the list again.
What is DNS anyway?
DNS is basically a website directory for the internet. It’s the method by which URLs are translated into IP addresses that your PC needs to contact servers. This information gets stored locally as DNS Cache for quicker access the next time you visit your favorite sites. However, this info can sometimes change and cause errors and timeouts. This is where DNS Cache Viewer can help troubleshoot the problem.
This program features a simple UI that is easy to understand. Click on the Refresh button to update all entries. You can even set an interval for this in seconds. It shows details like Time to Live or when Windows stored it, as well as Message Format that can help you see if an app is trying to connect to unknown servers.
Lastly, this tool can also help you flush your DNS cache out. Your list will then rebuild itself based on your host file, and hopefully, address the issues you encountered. This is as far as this program can go, though. There are no additional options or advanced features, such as being able to change DNS settings like other similar solutions available today.
Quick fix
In conclusion, DNS Cache Viewer is a simple yet handy tool to check for any network issues involving your DNS. While it doesn’t offer any advanced features or additional options, the Flush function will usually be enough to fix most DNS-related issues that users will have. The next time you encounter errors or timeouts, give this one a try. Recommended.
