How to Fix the “Temporary failure in name resolution” Ping Error

The “Temporary failure in name resolution” ping error is a common network issue that can disrupt internet connectivity and communication. This error typically occurs when a device or system is unable to resolve a domain name into its corresponding numerical IP address.

In this post, we will explore the causes of temporary failure in name resolution and provide effective solutions to resolve the problem.

Understanding the Error

Before getting started with the solutions it is essential to understand why this error occurs. The Domain Name System (DNS) is responsible for translating human readable domain names into machine understandable IP addresses. When a device attempts to ping a website it first sends a DNS request to resolve the domain name. If the DNS server fails to provide the correct IP address the ping request will result in a “temporary failure in name resolution” error.

Common Causes

The following are common causes described below on temporary failure in name resolution:

1. The DNS server responsible for resolving the domain name might be experiencing technical difficulties.
2. The DNS server may encounter too many requests leading to temporary failures.
3. The device’s DNS settings might be configured incorrectly pointing to an unavailable DNS server.
4. Temporary outages or maintenance work by your ISP can affect internet connectivity.
5. Strict firewall rules might be blocking DNS requests or other network traffic.
6. Incorrect network configuration on your device such as an invalid IP address or gateway can prevent DNS resolution.

Solutions to Fix the Error

Following are some solutions to fix the ping temporary failure in name resolution error:

Check DNS Server

If you are using a custom DNS server like Google Public DNS 8.8.8.8 or Cloudflare DNS 1.1.1.1 ensure that the settings are correct and the servers are accessible. If your device is configured to obtain DNS settings automatically from your router or ISP try manually specifying reliable DNS servers to see if that resolves the issue.

Flush DNS Cache

This will clear out any temporary DNS records that may be causing the problem. To flush the DNS cache on Windows, open a command prompt and type the following command:

ipconfig /flushdns

To flush the DNS cache on Mac, open a Terminal window and type the following command:

sudo dscacheutil -flushcache

For different Linux distributions, the default DNS resolver on most distributions, you can use the following command:

systemd-resolve --flush-caches

The DNS cache stores recently accessed DNS records in order to improve performance. However, sometimes the DNS records in the cache can become outdated or incorrect.

Release/Renew IP Address

This will force your computer to get a new IP address from your router. To release and renew your IP address on Windows, open a command prompt and type the following commands:

ipconfig /release && ipconfig /renew

To release and renew your IP address on Mac, open a Terminal window and type the following commands:

sudo ifconfig en0 release && sudo ifconfig en0 renew

To release and renew your IP address on Linux, open a Terminal and type the following commands:

sudo dhclient -r eth0 && sudo dhclient eth0

Check Firewall Settings

To isolate the issue temporarily disable your firewall and try pinging the website again. If the error is resolved you may need to adjust your firewall settings to allow DNS traffic. If you have install UFW on Ubuntu you can allow the open ports with the following command:

sudo ufw allow 43/tcp

The above command allows the open ports to fix Ubuntu temporary failure in name resolution error.

Check Hosts File

This file contains a manually defined mapping of IP addresses to hostnames. It is a local DNS resolver. Use a text editor like nano or vi to open the file then add a line in the following format:

<IP address> <hostname> <alias>

For example, to map example.com to the IP address 192.168.1.100:

192.168.1.100 example.com www.example.com

Save the changes and exit the text editor. Try pinging the hostname again to see if the error is resolved.

Check Resolve File

This file configures the DNS resolver settings for your system including the DNS servers to use. Use a text editor like nano or vi to open the file with the following command:

sudo nano /etc/resolve.conf

If your DNS server is configured incorrectly update the nameserver entries with the correct IP addresses.

nameserver 8.8.8.8
nameserver 8.8.4.4

Save the changes and exit the text editor. Try pinging the hostname again to see if the error is resolved.

Check Antivirus Setting

Ensure that your antivirus software is not blocking DNS requests. You might need to create exceptions or temporarily disable the antivirus to see if it resolves the problem.

If you suspect that your DNS server might be compromised consider using a DNS security service to protect against DNS poisoning attacks.

Verification

If you solve the problem from the above methods you can verify with the following command in your Windows command prompt:

ping ultahost.com

Similarly, you can verify MacOS and Linux temporary failure in name resolution in their terminal.

Important Notes

Following are some important notes while resolving temporary failure in name resolution error:

• Be careful when disabling your firewall or antivirus software as this can expose your system to security risks. Ensure that you re-enable them once you have resolved the issue.
• If you are manually configuring DNS servers consider using reputable public DNS providers like Google Public DNS or Cloudflare DNS.
• Verify that your network cables are securely connected and that your router or modem is functioning properly.

Conclusion

The “temporary failure in name resolution” ping error can be resolved with above described troubleshooting. By systematically checking DNS settings network connectivity firewall antivirus configurations and specific issues you can effectively identify and address the root cause of the problem.

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