Changing your DNS Numbers

What is DNS?

Every computer on the Internet has an IP address so that other computers can communicate with it. However, these addresses are completely numeric, rather ugly, and hard to remember. To make it easier on us humans, DNS makes it possible to assign names to IP addresses. Thus, you can reach our homepage on the web with the address www.forcomm.net instead of 151.201.91.4.

A few months ago we changed our primary upstream provider to provide you with better service and connectivity. Unfortunately, this change also forces us to change our IP addresses, including those for our Domain Name Servers. The old DNS numbers will still be available to our customers for a limited time. It is important that you make these changes immediately so your ability to lookup Domain Name Address is not interrupted. The old DNS numbers will be deactivated after 7-15-98. You will not be able to browse web pages by domain name after this date if you do not make the changes. Please follow the instructions below to make any necessary changes of your computer setup.

Windows 95

Step 1

Double click the "My Computer" icon on your desktop.

Step 2

Double click the "Dial-Up Networking" icon.

Step 3

Find the connection you use to connect to Forward Communications. This is usually called "Forward", "Forward Communications" or "Forcomm". Click on it once, then go to the top of the Dial-Up Networking box, select "File", then select "Properties".

Step 4

Click on "Server Types", it is either a tab on the top of the new window that opened or a button in the lower right hand corner.

Step 5

Click on the "TCP/IP Settings" button in the lower right hand corner of that window.

Step 6

Change the Primary DNS to 151.201.91.6.

Step 7

Change the Secondary DNS to 151.201.90.6.

Step 8

Click OK until you are back in the Dial-Up Networking window.

Step 9

Your settings have now been changed.

Step 10

Step 11

Close the "My Computer" window.

Some users will also have to make a change in the Control Panel. You may have to do this if you have had connection problems before and we have set the DNS numbers up in the "Network" section of the Control Panel. If you need to do this click here for the instructions

There are many different dialer and browser combinations with Windows 3.1. Each one is a little bit different. The following is a general approach to changing your DNS numbers in Windows 3.1 this is based in the Windows 3.1 version of Internet Explorer 3 with the shiva-type dialer. If you have another 3.1 Dialer and Windsock such as Trumpet Windsock then this will give you a general idea of how to change your DNS numbers.

Step 1

1. Go to your dialer icon and Click on "Properties" or "Settings", depending on the dialer. It is "Properties" in the IE Dialer.

Step 2

Click on the Tab or Button that says "Domain", "Server" or "TCP/IP Settings". In the IE 3 dialer it is a tab at the top labeled "TCP/IP Settings"

Step 3

Change your DNS Server Numbers to "151.201.91.6" and "151.201.90.6".

Step 4

Click the "OK" or "Apply" button.