How is a nameserver chosen when DNS resolution occurs?

Posted by Richard on Server Fault See other posts from Server Fault or by Richard
Published on 2011-01-03T13:19:15Z Indexed on 2011/01/03 13:55 UTC
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dns

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domain

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nameserver

I have a few domains hosted on nameservers at Zerigo. Zerigo have 5 nameservers and I have all 5 in the nameserver records for my domains. The nameservers are in different geographical locations (3 in the US, one in London, and one in Amsterdam).

When someone goes to a domain of mine and the DNS resolution occurs, how will it choose a nameserver? Will it always go to the nearest geographical one? Will it go to the one with fewest hops? Will it just choose one at random? (This is assuming all 5 are functioning perfectly).

Thanks

EDIT:

And does it make any difference which order I list the nameservers in on the domain name records?

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