.local
Encyclopedia
local is a pseudo-top-level domain used in multicast domain name service
(mDNS) of zero configuration networking discovery protocols.
Apple's Bonjour
implements mDNS, as does Avahi
. If a computer running Mac OS X
is not assigned a domain name, it identifies itself as hostname.local.
Name resolution issues may arise if multicast DNS software is used in conjunction with a network that implements the local toplevel DNS domain.
Despite not being a valid top-level domain in the Internet, considerable DNS traffic that queries the local domain exists in the public Domain Name System. In June 2009, the L root server received more than 400 such queries per second, ranking 4th in DNS traffic of all TLDs after COM
, ARPA
, and NET
.
Multicast DNS
Multicast DNS is a way of using familiar DNS programming interfaces, packet formats and operating , in a small network where no conventional DNS server has been installed....
(mDNS) of zero configuration networking discovery protocols.
Apple's Bonjour
Bonjour (software)
In computing, Bonjour is Apple Inc.'s trade name for its implementation of Zeroconf, a group of technologies that includes service discovery, address assignment, and name resolution...
implements mDNS, as does Avahi
Avahi (software)
Avahi is a free zeroconf implementation, including a system for multicast DNS/DNS-SD service discovery. It is licensed under the GNU Lesser General Public License ....
. If a computer running Mac OS X
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
is not assigned a domain name, it identifies itself as hostname.local.
Name resolution issues may arise if multicast DNS software is used in conjunction with a network that implements the local toplevel DNS domain.
Despite not being a valid top-level domain in the Internet, considerable DNS traffic that queries the local domain exists in the public Domain Name System. In June 2009, the L root server received more than 400 such queries per second, ranking 4th in DNS traffic of all TLDs after COM
.com
The domain name com is a generic top-level domain in the Domain Name System of the Internet. Its name is derived from commercial, indicating its original intended purpose for domains registered by commercial organizations...
, ARPA
.arpa
The domain name arpa is a top-level domain in the Domain Name System of the Internet. It is used exclusively for technical infrastructure purposes...
, and NET
.net
The domain name net is a generic top-level domain used in the Domain Name System of the Internet. The name is derived from network, indicating its originally intended purpose for organizations involved in networking technologies, such as Internet service providers and other infrastructure companies...
.