- Open a command prompt and run nslookup
- Set the [server] you wish to query from:
- If you are looking for a specific type of record, set the record type:
- Enter the domain name, or if doing a reverse lookup, the IP address, you wish to query for. If you're simply looking to test the status of the DNS server you are running the query from, query that server's domain name (i.e. ns1.stage2.net for Stage 2).
- To get a zone transfer for a domain, use the following command: ls -d [domain]
- NOTE: You must be querying that domain's primary name server (SOA) for this to work properly, as most DNS servers are set up to reject queries like this from other DNS servers. Even then, if the DNS server is set up to not allow zone transfers, or will only perform a zone transfer for a trusted host, it will not work.
dig @[server] [name] [type]
- From terminal run the above command where:
- [server] = the specific name server that you wish to query from.
- [name] = the domain name that you are requesting
- [type] = the type of record you are looking for (PTR, A, CNAME, etc.)
- For more in-depth information run: man dig
- To get a zone transfer for a domain, use the following command: dig @<DNS IP> -t AXFR <zone name>
- NOTE: You must be querying that domain's primary name server (SOA) for this to work properly, as most DNS servers are set up to reject queries like this from other DNS servers. Even then, if the DNS server is set up to not allow zone transfers, or will only perform a zone transfer for a trusted host, it will not work.
- SIP providers frequently use SRV records for High Availablility. These require special handling when looking up the SRV record.
- The request format should be one of the following:
- _sip._udp.sub.domain.tld
- _sip._tcp.sub.domain.tld
- Example commands:
dig @8.8.8.8 _sip._udp.penrosetech.net srv
> server ns1.e-c-group.com
> set type=srv
> _sip._udp.vwave.net
Checking DNS Server status
Using MXToolbox.com
- To test the DNS server status, use the following links:
- If the status column displays a green checkmark, it's responding properly. If it displays a red X, there are likely issues. Following up with dig/nslookup is a good idea in that situation.
http://www.cyberciti.biz/faq/start-stop-restart-bind9-linux-command/
- From terminal, run:
- router# service named status
named-checkzone -D vwave.net /var/named/zones/net/vwave/zoneinfo
- Open Server Manager or the DNS MMC snap-in and expand down to the applicable server.
- Right click on the server and select the "Properties" menu option.
- Select the "Monitoring" tab on the server properties dialog box.
- Select the simple/recursive query options and press the "Test Now" button.
- Both tests should pass. A pass on Simple states that that server is responding to queries. A pass on Recursive means that an external DNS server (root server, secondary/tertiary DNS, etc.) responded to queries.