Multicast DNS

lastmod 2025-11-26created 2024-06-042 edits

Multicast DNS (mDNS) is a computer networking protocol that resolves hostnames to IP addresses within small networks that do not include a local name server. It is a zero-configuration service, using essentially the same programming interfaces, packet formats and operating semantics as unicast Domain Name System (DNS). It is designed to work as a standalone protocol or compatibly with standard DNS servers.

It uses IP multicast User Datagram Protocol (UDP) packets, and is implemented by the Apple Bonjour and open-source Avahi software packages, included in most Linux distributions.

The Windows 10 implementation was limited to discovering networked printers, but subsequent releases resolved hostnames as well.

mDNS can work in conjunction with DNS Service Discovery (DNS-SD), a companion zero-configuration networking technique specified separately in RFC 6763.

See also

• DNS
• Apple Bonjour

Favorite site

• Multicast DNS - Wikipedia
• Network protocols that can be exploited in attacks : .. : Naver Blog - Network protocols that can be exploited in attacks: MS-LLTD, MDNS, ICMPv6