Exascale Resolver: Your internet. Resolved.
We're building Exascale Resolver, a free public DNS service for individuals, companies and ISPs. The plan is to run it across 14 anycast servers in the UK and Europe, with malware protection and optional tools for organisations that want more control over their DNS.
DNS is the lookup your device makes to turn a name such as wikipedia.org into an IP address. It happens before your browser can connect to a website, and it's used by apps and other services throughout the day. Most people never need to think about it. Our job is to make sure it works well.
Making use of the network we've built
Exascale peers with networks across the UK and Europe at exchanges including LINX, LONAP, AMS-IX and Frys-IX. These direct connections give us a good foundation for running a public DNS service.
We expect that connectivity to mean quicker DNS lookups for many users, helping their browsers start loading websites sooner. The difference will vary by connection, caching and the websites being visited. We'll share measurements as we roll the service out.
The resolver servers will share service addresses using anycast. Network routing directs requests to an available location, with alternative instances available if one is taken out of service. We're tying route announcements to DNS health checks so that a server's ability to answer queries helps determine whether it receives traffic.
Free public DNS
The public service will be free to use, whether you're setting it up at home, choosing DNS for your company or providing connectivity to customers.
We'll publish the addresses and setup instructions once the public rollout has been checked. The aim is to keep getting started straightforward, with clear guidance for common routers and devices.
Malware protection
We're developing DNS-level filtering to block lookups for known malicious domains. That gives us a way to help stop devices connecting to destinations associated with malware, alongside the security measures already in place on a user's network and devices.
It won't catch every threat. A domain has to be identified before it can be blocked, and DNS filtering doesn't inspect everything a device sends or receives. We'll explain what the protection covers and how it behaves before launch.
Optional analytics for companies and ISPs
If you run a network, knowing why DNS queries fail can be useful. So can understanding query volumes and spotting changes in how the service is being used.
Our optional analytics are being developed for companies and ISPs that want that visibility. They'll help with troubleshooting and planning, with clear information about what data is collected, who can access it and how long it's kept.
Detailed operational data will be kept separate from any public reporting. Public statistics will use filtered aggregates and won't include individual client IP addresses or customer labels.
Optional zone forwarding
Some organisations already have DNS services they need to keep using for particular domains.
Zone forwarding lets selected domains use chosen nameservers while other queries follow the resolver's normal lookup process. We're developing this as an optional feature for organisations with their own DNS requirements.
Coming soon
There's more testing to do before we open the service publicly. We'll share rollout updates, setup instructions and details of the optional features as they become available.
Exascale Resolver. Your internet. Resolved.