dig

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Domain Information Groper (dig) is a command line tool for querying DNS servers that ships with BIND DNS server software published by the Internet Systems Consortium (ISC).

• can be run pointing at a specific DNS server
  • otherwise, uses default resolver
• without any specific settings, queries the DNS root zone
• e.g., simple query: dig host
  • searches for the address record for the host, domain, or FQDN or PTR record for an IP address
• e.g., dig @ns1.isp.example host
  • directs the resolve request to the specific DNS server identified after @
    • can be an FQDN or IP address
• e.g., display all the resource records about a domain
  • dig @ns1.isp.example host all
• e.g., display just specific resource records about a domain (i.e., Mail Exchange):
  • dig @ns1.isp.example host MX
• dig generates a lot of information,
  • can add parameters to the end of the command which reduces the output
    • e.g., +nocomments or +nostats

Info

• can use dig on Windows by downloading BIND DNS server package and installing using the tools-only option