DNS Tools - Core Description

VIDEO >> See these tools in action! - look for this symbol:

• Watch a demonstration video (flash) of Simple Query in the Overview Video.
• Simple Query. This tool uses your operating system's built-in resolver to do a basic DNS query. It accepts an IPv4 address or hostname and queries your default name servers for the translation. Your operating system may also attempt to determine the NetBIOS computer name if the default DNS fails to respond to an IP address query.
  
  [Start Query]
  Looking up [www.netscantools.com]
  Hostname: www.netscantools.com
  IP Address: 66.242.21.6
   
• Watch a demonstration video (flash) of "Who Am I" in the Overview Video.
• Who Am I? This button asks queries your system for it's Windows computer name. Then it uses that name to obtain the IP addresses and any aliases assigned to your computer. It shows the list of default DNS name servers used by your computer.
  
  This Computer's Name and IP Address:
  Hostname: OldDell
  IP Address: 192.168.0.58
  
  Domain Name:
  
  DNS Server IP Address(es):
  208.200.248.1
  208.200.248.8
   
• Watch a demonstration video (flash) of Test Default Servers in the Overview Video.
• Test Default Servers. This tool takes an IP address or hostname and requests the A or PTR record from each DNS name server assigned to your computer. This tells you if each default DNS is working or communicating properly when a simple name resolution query is made by any internet enabled program.
  
  Test of each Default DNS using an 'A' record query for microsoft.com
  Starting Timestamp: 01/21/09 11:25:45
  
  Testing 208.200.248.1
  Server Reply Code: No Error.
  Server can do recursion.
  A Record: 207.46.232.182
  A Record: 207.46.197.32
  Server Response Time = 0.047 seconds
  
  Testing 208.200.248.8
  Server Reply Code: No Error.
  Server can do recursion.
  A Record: 207.46.232.182
  A Record: 207.46.197.32
  Server Response Time = 0.078 seconds
   
• Watch a demonstration video (flash) of NSLOOKUP used to get resource records for a domain.
• Watch a demonstration video (flash) of DiG +trace and NSLOOKUP used to get resource records for an IP address.
• NSLOOKUP. This tool functions like the UNIX or Windows command line nslookup program. It uses the parameters specified in Setup to define which records are requested from DNS. Unlike Simple Query, you can specify exactly which DNS server to use with your NSLOOKUP, AXFR, or DIG queries -- the DNS can be anywhere reachable through the network. We support 47 record types including the popular A, ANY, CNAME, MX, NS, PTR, SOA, and TXT types. A typical 'ANY' query result is shown below:
  
  
   
• Watch a demonstration video (flash) of DiG and DiG +trace.
• DiG (Domain Information Groper) is similar in functionality to NSLOOKUP, however, it provides much more detailed information. Our current output format is based on Dig version 9.x.
  
  
• Watch a demonstration video (flash) of DiG +trace and NSLOOKUP used to get resource records for an IP address.
• Watch a demonstration video (flash) of DiG and DiG +trace.
• DiG +trace provides a traceback to the root servers of all delegated zone responsible name servers down to the authoritative host for the domain or IP address you entered. This example shows a query of nwpsw.com.
  
  [Start Query]
  DiG Starting Timestamp: 01/21/09 11:32:42
  
  ; <<>> DiG 9.x <<>> nwpsw.com +trace
  . 423436 IN NS K.ROOT-SERVERS.NET
  . 423436 IN NS J.ROOT-SERVERS.NET
  . 423436 IN NS M.ROOT-SERVERS.NET
  . 423436 IN NS B.ROOT-SERVERS.NET
  . 423436 IN NS H.ROOT-SERVERS.NET
  . 423436 IN NS L.ROOT-SERVERS.NET
  . 423436 IN NS A.ROOT-SERVERS.NET
  . 423436 IN NS I.ROOT-SERVERS.NET
  . 423436 IN NS C.ROOT-SERVERS.NET
  . 423436 IN NS F.ROOT-SERVERS.NET
  . 423436 IN NS G.ROOT-SERVERS.NET
  . 423436 IN NS D.ROOT-SERVERS.NET
  . 423436 IN NS E.ROOT-SERVERS.NET
  ;; Received 228 bytes from 208.200.248.8 (208.200.248.8) in 62 ms
  
  com. 172800 IN NS a.gtld-servers.net
  com. 172800 IN NS b.gtld-servers.net
  com. 172800 IN NS c.gtld-servers.net
  com. 172800 IN NS d.gtld-servers.net
  com. 172800 IN NS e.gtld-servers.net
  com. 172800 IN NS f.gtld-servers.net
  com. 172800 IN NS g.gtld-servers.net
  com. 172800 IN NS h.gtld-servers.net
  com. 172800 IN NS i.gtld-servers.net
  com. 172800 IN NS j.gtld-servers.net
  com. 172800 IN NS k.gtld-servers.net
  com. 172800 IN NS l.gtld-servers.net
  com. 172800 IN NS m.gtld-servers.net
  ;; Received 509 bytes from K.ROOT-SERVERS.NET (193.0.14.129) in 203 ms
  
  nwpsw.com. 172800 IN NS ns100.apollohosting.com
  nwpsw.com. 172800 IN NS ns101.apollohosting.com
  ;; Received 113 bytes from a.gtld-servers.net (192.5.6.30) in 219 ms
  
  nwpsw.com. 86400 IN SOA ns100.apollohosting.com nstadmin.sampledomain.com 2009010901l 10800l 3600l 604800l 10800l
  nwpsw.com. 86400 IN NS ns100.apollohosting.com
  nwpsw.com. 86400 IN NS ns101.apollohosting.com
  nwpsw.com. 86400 IN A 74.126.192.136
  nwpsw.com. 86400 IN MX mailboxcop.com
  ;; Received 213 bytes from ns100.apollohosting.com (66.242.27.250) in 219 ms
  
  [End Query]
  
   
• Zone Transfer (Automatic or Manual). This is a utility that can effectively list all the devices registered in a DNS zone that defines a domain. We provide two types of Zone Transfer: one attempts to automatically locate the Authoritative host to make the transfer possible and the other allows you to specify the Authoritative DNS for the Zone. DNS servers implementing tight security will not allow you to do a zone transfer unless you are on an approved IP address list. Transfer method is TCP using AXFR.
   
  
   
• Watch a demonstration video (flash) of Setup in the Overview Video.
• Setup. This is used to define the many types of NSLOOKUP or DIG record queries you will be making. It also controls filtering on Zone Transfers (List Domain). Specify the name server you will be using here.
   
  

Windows Vista compatibility: Fully functional as of v10.42.

Screenshot of the Tool - Test Default Servers