Guild Wars 2

Guys Google DNS is being pressed on top of other DNS but please Google is not the only answer.

Consider the following:
1. Your ISP (Might be the fastest.)
2. Norton DNS https://dns.norton.com/dnsweb/huConfigureRouter.do
3. Open DNS http://www.opendns.com/home-solutions/
4. Google DNS https://developers.google.com/speed/public-dns/

Remember guys the issue here is Guildwars 2 connectivity. Your ISP might be (by default) the fastest DNS connection to Guildwars 2 servers.

Test before you change!

Tools:
1. http://www.grc.com/dns/benchmark.htm (Preferred and easiest to use.)
2. http://www.pingplotter.com/ (Needs research.)

Again!
ISPs know their stuff (duh network is their business) and usually will provide the fastest “raw” DNS service for your games. Do not blindly follow the advice to change.

Addition:
Location is also a factor. In here, Norton DNS is much faster than Google DNS but our ISP still is the fastest to Guildwars servers.

Be advised!

Hm, what exactly do people think a DNS server has to do with latency in online games?

OGDeadHead.8326:

Hm, what exactly do people think a DNS server has to do with latency in online games?

Plenty. Finding the most efficient route to your destination can mean the difference of a low ping or a high one. Also one route could have packet loss or be congested. Different DNS providers may offer different routes depending on how they handle DNS.

Games often use domain names too, that way they are fault tolerant to IP changes.

Here is a list of just a few of the domains that GW2 uses:

• auth1.101.arenanetworks.com
• auth2.101.arenanetworks.com
• origincdn.101.arenanetworks.com

I suggest reading up on what a DNS server is, then show me some examples where changing a DNS server in any way improved latency in any noticeable way.

Nitro.4732:

OGDeadHead.8326:

Hm, what exactly do people think a DNS server has to do with latency in online games?

Plenty. Finding the most efficient route to your destination can mean the difference of a low ping or a high one. Also one route could have packet loss or be congested. Different DNS providers may offer different routes depending on how they handle DNS.

Games often use domain names too, that way they are fault tolerant to IP changes.

Here is a list of just a few of the domains that GW2 uses:

• auth1.101.arenanetworks.com
• auth2.101.arenanetworks.com
• origincdn.101.arenanetworks.com

Sir,

Those are authentication domain names (the third not sure – is it a download/web site? as per CDN service). Once they are resolved gameplay should not be affected.

Please visit the merged mother of all threads about lag. The issue is mainly the sending of data from Guildwars 2 servers to the client. Client (players) connection to Guildwars servers is very fast. So in effect it is not a DNS clientside issue.

Guildwars 2 is simply one game, one program that uses the Internet. Users must be advised that changing the DNS (especially on routers) will affect all other things that uses the Internet not merely Guildwars 2.

So why a push exclusively for Google DNS when most DNS services have the same technology and same technical education (Cisco people, same technical papers, same podcasts, same books, same coffee etc…).

Also Google DNS “probably” have everything you do recorded. It might be an issue for something. I attended their conferences, about 50% of the lecture is about what they know about what people do on the net.

But if Google DNS is the fastest then choose it (the speed though will not affect gameplay as usually the difference is too small to be a factor). So far ISP default (as they are manned by certified engineers) is faster – unless you need DNS level protection.