Local name resolution is done via /etc/hosts file. If you have small network then use /etc/hosts file. DNS (domain name service is accountable for associating domain names with ip address, for example domain yahoo.com is easy to remember than IP address 202.66.66.12) provides better name resolution. To configure FreeBSD as DNS client you need to edit or modify /etc/resolv.conf file. This file defines which name servers to use.

Steps to configure FreeBSD as DNS client
1) Login as a root user

$ su -

2) Open /etc/resolv.conf file using text editor

# vi /etc/resolv.conf

3) Add ISP nameserver as follows:

search isp.com
nameserver 202.54.1.110
nameserver 202.54.1.112
nameserver 202.54.1.115

Note Max. three nameserver can be used/defined at a time.

4) Save file

5) Test dns using ping, dig or nslookup commands:

$ dig www.cyberciti.biz
$ dig mx google.com
$ dig a yahoo.com
$ nslookup nixcraft.com
$ ping www.cyberciti.biz

OR
Use browser to browse Internet.

See also:

• How do I improve DNS performance on Linux/Windows Desktop (if you are using Linux/FreeBSD as a Router)