NSlookup

[Srinivas Acharya]

Dear All,
I am not able to understand what is the use of nslookup
command. I have hardly used this command. I don't have
practical experience of this command. In text book also
there is very limited reference. Can any body give most
practical usage of this command?.

Regards,
Srinivas Acharya

 

[Herb Martin]

Dear All,
I am not able to understand what is the use of nslookup
command. I have hardly used this command. I don't have
practical experience of this command. In text book also
there is very limited reference. Can any body give most
practical usage of this command?.

NSlookup is a "client side" test too for you DNS server(s).

It allows you to make a request to your default or to a specific
DNS server to resolve a particular resource record of most any
type -- or even in it's 'shell' mode to retrieve a complete zone
list (zone transfer) if permitted by the server.

One trivial use for NSlookup -- suppose you have a problem
with the email coming from a particular domain and wish to
contact the "responsible person" you can do a NSLookup of
the "SOA" record:

nslookup -type=SOA microsoft.com

microsoft.com
primary name server = dns.cp.msft.net
responsible mail addr = msnhst.microsoft.com
serial = 2004081201
refresh = 300 (5 mins)
retry = 600 (10 mins)
expire = 2419200 (28 days)
default TTL = 3600 (1 hour)

Then entry "responsible mail addr = msnhst.microsoft.com"
must be (mentally) converted by substituting and '@' for the
FIRST '.' giving (e-mail address removed)

Sending a (polite) request to that address should get you a
response to the problem (with Microsoft's internet presence not
with their retail software) or a direction to the appropriate
email/person.

This is just an example so please don't try it unless you have
a legitimate issue that my be resolved by those responsible for
their DNS presence.

 

[Srinivas Acharya]

Hi,
I assure you I will not contact any person. It is just for
my information. I thank you for your patience in replying
in detail. Could you please just point out other practical
use of NSlookup. I don't want in detail. I just want to
know the points.


Regards,
Srinivas Acharya

 

[Kevin D. Goodknecht Sr. [MVP]]

In

Hi,
I assure you I will not contact any person. It is just for
my information. I thank you for your patience in replying
in detail. Could you please just point out other practical
use of NSlookup. I don't want in detail. I just want to
know the points.

Forget nslookup, download Netdig from www.mvptools.com it has a GUI and not
only is it easier to use, it doesn't have any of nslookup's quirks. It
requires only that .NET framework to be installed if run from a local drive.
There are no commands to learn other that the query type for instance by
putting "microsoft.com any" in the query field here is what you get in the
answer window:
opcode: Query, status: NOERROR, id: 42
flags: qr rd ra; QUERY: 1, ANSWER: 11, AUTHORITY: 0, ADDITIONAL: 0

QUESTION SECTION:
microsoft.com. IN ANY

ANSWER SECTION:
microsoft.com. 3579 IN SOA dns.cp.msft.net.
msnhst.microsoft.com. 2004081303 300 600 2419200 3600
microsoft.com. 3579 IN MX 10 mailb.microsoft.com.
microsoft.com. 3579 IN MX 10 mailc.microsoft.com.
microsoft.com. 3579 IN MX 10 maila.microsoft.com.
microsoft.com. 319 IN A 207.46.250.119
microsoft.com. 319 IN A 207.46.130.108
microsoft.com. 43179 IN NS ns5.msft.net.
microsoft.com. 43179 IN NS ns1.msft.net.
microsoft.com. 43179 IN NS ns2.msft.net.
microsoft.com. 43179 IN NS ns3.msft.net.
microsoft.com. 43179 IN NS ns4.msft.net.

Query time: 90 ms
Server : 4.2.2.1:53 tcp (4.2.2.1)
When : 8/14/2004 3:02:44 AM
Size rcvd : 277

 

[Ace Fekay [MVP]]

In

Hi,
I assure you I will not contact any person. It is just for
my information. I thank you for your patience in replying
in detail. Could you please just point out other practical
use of NSlookup. I don't want in detail. I just want to
know the points.


Regards,
Srinivas Acharya

Herb was just using that as an example as far as the contacting the
"responsible person" " of a domain. He was not implying anything else. It is
just one of the many uses of nslookup. It's designed to tech support DNS
issues, whether for your own server or other servers out there.


--
Regards,
Ace

Please direct all replies ONLY to the Microsoft public newsgroups
so all can benefit.

This posting is provided "AS-IS" with no warranties or guarantees
and confers no rights.

Ace Fekay, MCSE 2003 & 2000, MCSA 2003 & 2000, MCSE+I, MCT, MVP
Microsoft Windows MVP - Windows Server - Directory Services

Security Is Like An Onion, It Has Layers
HAM AND EGGS: A day's work for a chicken;
A lifetime commitment for a pig.

 

[Herb Martin]

in detail. Could you please just point out other practical
use of NSlookup. I don't want in detail. I just want to
know the points.

All of the uses have to do with you wishing to ask
a DNS server a DIRECT question.

You either want the INFORMATION in that response
or you wish to see if the server is WORKING and if
it agrees with other servers.

That is really it -- if you don't want to do one of those
things then NSLookup isn't likely to help you.

While Kevin is correct there are "better" tools -- if
you don't want to do this sort of task that is irrelevant.

And, note that NSLookup is already on just about NT
class (and Win2000+ etc) IP machine already so if
you have a problem you don't need to go find something
to make the checks.

It also pretty much works even if it is a bit confusing for
beginners.

 

[Jonathan de Boyne Pollard]

SA> Can any body give most practical usage of this command?.

Yes: The most practical use is to use it test your favourite file
deletion tool's ability to delete files.

<URL:http://homepages.tesco.net./~J.deBoynePollard/FGA/nslookup-flaws.html>