nslookup for dns testing

nslookup is a standard tool included with windwos that can be used by dns adminstrators for querying any dns server at the command line.

You can use it to directly query edgedirector servers to check that your records are correct and available before going live.

starting nslookup

all of the following instructions  presume
a carriage return at the end of each line.

To start nslookup in interactive mode,
open a command prompt window and at the
command prompt type:

nslookup

without any arguments.

At this point, nslookup is in interactive mode
and set to use your default dns servers.

now, point nslookup at a particular dns server,
for example ns.example.com, type:

set server=ns.example.com.


notice the trailing dot, nslookup requires them
to avoid appending any default domain, this is
required for all names, in all commands in nslookup


if you would like nslookup to display full debug
information, type the following commands:


set debug
set d1
set d2


this tells nslookup to include as much detail as
possible

nslookup defaults to querying for A records on
startup. to change the type of record for a
session to, for example MX records, type:

set type=MX

the record type can be changed at any time
while you are at the interactive nslookup
prompt

using nslookup

then issue the query by typing in the name you want
looked up of currently set dns record type type:

example.com.

notice again, the trailing dot

if an MX record exists for example.com, it will
be displayed, and because you have full debug
turned on, you will see a lot of additional
information. you may want to leave debug mode
turned off to begin with

then, if you want to see the NS records, change
the type by typing:

set type=NS

you can now issue queries for the NS records.

hint: the up arrow can be used to recall
commands from the command buffer

when you want to quit, type "exit"

help for nslookup

Help for nslookup is available in the windows help system. Fire up help, go to the index, and type in "nslookup", it will show several entries. It is not found in the contents tab.