We pick g.root-servers.net, one of the 13 root servers (1), and ask it about yahoo.sm and learn that sm is delegated to four name servers (2), so we ask ns3.telecomitalia.sm where we learn that yahoo.sm is delegated to five name servers, including ns4.yahoo.com (3), so we ask that one and get the following answer:
Yahoo.sm is a domain controlled by four domain name servers at yahoo.com. All four of them are on different IP networks. Incoming mail for yahoo.sm is handled by one mail server at .. We are missing the IP:s of one server: .. Yahoo.sm has two IP numbers (68.180.206.184, 98.139.102.145). Both are on different IP networks.
The two IP numbers 68.180.206.184 and 98.139.102.145 together
Most of the several thousand of host names that point to the two IP numbers 68.180.206.184 and 98.139.102.145 together, hereafter referred to as "IP group 1", use the five name servers ns1, ns2, ns3, ns4 and ns5.yahoo.com together, hereafter referred to as "name server group 1", (example: yahoomius.com, yahoowizard.com and dslregistersbcyahoo.com ). Worth noting is that half of the domains that use name server group 1 point to IP group 1.
The IP number 68.180.206.184
There are several thousand of host names that point to the IP number 68.180.206.184.