The DNS protocol Allows translating host names ( into IP addresses. Employs a hierarchic network of DNS servers. At the top, the root name servers ( through know the addresses of the name servers responsible for each of the top-level domains (*.com, *.org, *.net, *.gov, *.mil, *.edu and the various countries domains). Each secondary name server knows the names of the name servers that handle 3rd-level domains (e.g., and so on.