[Ham-Mac] Cool Free Utility called namebench

[Dick Kriss]

If you get bored and want speed up your internet connection, try the free benchmarking utility from Google called namebench. 

http://code.google.com/p/namebench/

Download and run namebench to see if there are better DNS servers for your location.  You may be surprised with the namebench recommendation for your location.  It takes a few minutes and will run in the background while you are doing other stuff.

The following are the OS X steps to implement the recommendation:

Leave the namebench recommendations on your desktop or write down the recommended configuration (three IP numbers ).

Open your System Preferences	and click on Network. From the Network panel, click on the Advanced button on the lower right then click on the DNS tab. Your current DNS Servers are displayed on the left. 

Snap a Mac screenshot so your can remember your old settings in case you ever want to return. My bet is you will never return.

Select the numbers one at time and use the "-" button to remove. Then use the "+" button to add the three namebench recommended numbers. Cick on the OK button and RESTART your Mac.

After it boots, run the namebench utility again to verify the improvement.  You may have to do two cycles to get the best settings. Be sure to restart after making changes. 

If you do not like the results, go back to the numbers in the screenshot you saved.  I don't think you will ever go back.

Try it …the  free price is right and you may be surprised with the performance improvement

73 Dick AA5VU