The difference between DNS and DSN

[Lightwave]

Have been doing some research into the best way of connecting an access front end to SQL Server and the two options seem to be

ODBC

and something called

DNS

I think I'm getting my self all confused and getting my acronyms mixed.

First off what does DNS stand for? (Domain Name Sysem or something else)
and what's the difference between that and DSN which I have investigated means Database Source Name?

I am told DNS is more stable than ODBC so I am hoping to go with this but want to get all my terms right first off.

Thanks

Mark

 

[DCrake]

In laymams terms DNS is a method of creating an ODBC linking script to your SQL server database. Here is a little demo that creates them in Access.

 

[Lightwave]

Thanks so is DNS the right term or is it DSN you have referred to DNS in your post but labelled the database DSN??

 

[FoFa]

DNS is what converts a name to an IP address, so DSN is the proper term in this reference.
if it is any consolation, i get them confused all the time.

DSN also MAY use ODBC or OLEDB or native clients (maybe more even). DSN is a method to describe the connection properties and method to something (typically a database) to something that needs to connect.

 

[Banana]

Yes, I also get tripped over the words.

DNS = Domain Name Server
DSN = Data Source Name

As Fofa said, you need a DNS server so you can type in say, www.google.com and end up at one of their actual IP address somehow. It's easier to remember www.google.com but networking protocols actually doesn't use strings like that but rather say, 101.102.103.104 (a made up example) to (more or less) uniquely identify the address of a computer on the network/internet.

But in context of Access development, we work with DSN to connect to a certain backend. Its possible that when we use a remote back end, we may have to depend on DNS (Domain Name Server) to locate the server, but that has nothing to do with DSN.

Example of a DSN that would need DNS services:

ODBC;DRIVER={MySQL 5.1 ODBC Driver};SERVER=myhosted.server.com....

Example of DSN that wouldn't need DNS services at all:

ODBC;DRIVER={MySQL 5.1 ODBC Driver};SERVER=90.80.70.60...

I hope this helps a bit.... (BTW - to be explicit - the DNS services usually are provided by your ISP which is why you almost never worry about it unless you happen to run your own servers)

 

[Lightwave]

Thanks guys I suspect that a lot of people get tripped by the terms.

That's very clear Banana, DNS is a verbal translation of IP addresses - the combination of both terms meaning a connection in some fashion and people tripping up while using the terms had me confused.