Nslookup which server

Instead, we use something called DNS records. This means that when you type www. Then, you can connect via internet protocol IP to the host server. When you are having problems with your DNS lookup service , one way to diagnose these problems is via the nslookup tool in Command Prompt. There are two primary functions included with nslookup. There are two operating modes for nslookup , called non-interactive and interactive.

With non-interactive , the nslookup tool inspects the address entries in your DNS servers cache. These entries are known as resource records. This is the default mode when performing a simple lookup without additional parameters. Then we have interactive. This mode is used to query nameservers for information on hosts and domains , or print a full list of hosts for that specific domain. An interactive session is persistent in the Command Prompt window, meaning you can type commands for nslookup without having to specify that you want to use nslookup at the beginning of each command.

Please note, this guide was written using Windows 10 v Linux and macOS also support nslookup , but we are focusing on Windows in this guide. Let us try our first nslookup command. This will be in non-interactive mode.

Type cmd and press Enter on the keyboard. You will see a Command Prompt window appear. Now we can test nslookup. In other words, a parameter in which capitalization or lack thereof are relevant. There are different scenarios in which the use of nslookup is appropriate. In this way, the command-line program is an especially crucial tool when resolving DNS issues. First and foremost, a data query helps find the cause of the problem at hand.

For example, those who use Windows and experience an issue with the active directory can use nslookup to quickly and easily check whether all involved servers are converted in the domain name system as planned.

Generally, this program shows its strengths when various subdomains are involved — not only when it is simply a matter of checking them, but also when there are connection problems. In order to protect your privacy, the video will not load until you click on it. In this case, nslookup determines the servers in question on the basis of the MX-Records m ail e x changer that belong to the domain of the e-mail provider.

These entries contain the IP addresses and names of the provider servers, which subsequently only need to be specified during the configuration of the mail clients to perfect the routing of the electronic mail service. To use nslookup on Mac, Windows, or Linux computers, the first step is to open the command-line of the operating system in question. After that, there are two previously introduced modes to mobilize the DNS tool for your purposes:.

The most appropriate approach depends on your available know-how. Beginners who first need to get to know the service can ease the transition by starting nslookup and then learning about syntax and parameters step by step.

If you have begun by starting nslookup in a single step, the command-line will wait for the entry of further commands. Now, users have the opportunity to complete queries with the standard setup or to determine individualized options. For the former method, simply enter the domain name for which you want to find out the IP address or vice versa into the command-line and confirm your choice by pressing the enter key.

The content of the nslookup results are the IPv4 four-figure and IPv6 addresses longer, divided with colons of the example domain. For individually configured nslookup queries in the interactive mode , see the following two examples. However, as previously mentioned, the command-line tool can retrieve other address types of a domain through its method of accessing the DNS entries. To this end, the user must next set the desired type, before they can enter the domain name into the command-line.

The syntax of the corresponding nslookup commands looks like this:. It is standard procedure for nslookup to contact the local DNS server, which is usually predetermined by the router , or rather the Internet provider. But using it for the query can occasionally result in inaccurate results, for example, because the server being searched for is not listed in the cache of the local name server. Luckily, the command-line tool provides the option to choose the DNS server you want to use for the query yourself.

However, in case it is not on the Linux distro you have chosen, or you have previously uninstalled it, you can install it following these steps: 1.

Now, you are ready to use the Nslookup command on your device and try the examples below. Nslookup syntax The Nslookup syntax is very simple, and you can use it the same on different OSes. Nslookup: command not found — how to fix it? What is Nslookup? Check the 10 most used Nslookup commands that will help you to understand better your domain's management. Martin Pramatarov. Publisher Name.

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