NAME

nstest − DNS test shell

SYNOPSIS

nstest [ −d ] [ −i ] [ −r ] [ −v ] [ −p port ] [ inet_addr [ logfile ] ]

DESCRIPTION

nstest is an interactive DNS test program.  Queries are formed and sent by user command; any reply received is printed on the standard output.  inet_addr is the Internet address of the DNS resolver to which nstest should send its queries. If inet_addr is not included, nstest first tries to contact a DNS server on the local host; if that fails, it tries the servers listed in the /etc/resolv.conf file.  If a logfile is supplied, nstest uses it to log the queries sent and replies received. 

OPTIONS

−d Causes nstest to create a file named ns_packet.dump (if it does not exist) and write into it a raw (binary) copy of each packet sent.  If ns_packet.dump does exist, nstest will truncate it. 

−i Sets the RES_IGNTC flag on the queries it makes.  See resolver(3N) for a description of the RES_IGNTC flag. 

−r Turns off the RES_RECURSE flag on the queries it makes.  See resolver(3N) for a description of the RES_RECURSE flag. 

−v Turns on the RES_USEVC and RES_STAYOPEN flags on the res_send () calls made.  See resolver(3N) for a description of the RES_USEVC and RES_STAYOPEN flags. 

−p Causes nstest to use the supplied port instead of the default name server port. 

USAGE

When nstest starts, it prints a prompt (">") and waits for user input.  DNS queries are formed by typing a key letter followed by the appropriate argument.  Each key letter results in a call to res_mkquery () with op set to either IQUERY or QUERY and type set to one of the type values (defined in <arpa/nameser.h>).  (Any other key letter than those listed below causes nstest to print a summary of the following table.) 

After the query is successfully formed, res_send () is called to send it and wait for a reply.  nstest then prints the following on the standard output:

• a summary of the request and reply packets, including the HEADER structure (defined in <arpa/nameser.h>) used in the request

• the question being asked of the name server

• an enumeration of the name server(s) being polled

• a summary of the HEADER structure received in the reply

• the question the name server answered

• the answer itself

EXAMPLES

To fetch the address of host playground.sun.com from the Sun name server, the user would enter:

$ nstest 192.9.5.1
> aplayground.sun.com

nstest would return the following:

res_mkquery(0, playground.sun.com, 1, 1)
res_send()
HEADER:
        opcode = QUERY, id = 1, rcode = NOERROR
        header flags:  rd
        qdcount = 1, ancount = 0, nscount = 0, arcount = 0
 
QUESTIONS:
        playground.sun.com, type = A, class = IN
 
Querying server (# 1) address = 192.9.5.1
got answer:
HEADER:
        opcode = QUERY, id = 1, rcode = NOERROR
        header flags:  qr aa rd ra
        qdcount = 1, ancount = 1, nscount = 0, arcount = 0
 

QUESTIONS:
        playground.sun.com, type = A, class = IN
 ANSWERS:
        playground.sun.com
        type = A, class = IN, ttl = 1 day, dlen = 4
        internet address = 192.9.5.5

To look up a PTR record, enter:

$ nstest 192.9.5.1
> p5.5.9.192.in-addr.arpa

nstest would return the following:

res_mkquery(0, 5.5.9.192.in-addr.arpa, 1, 12)
res_send()
HEADER:
        opcode = QUERY, id = 2, rcode = NOERROR
        header flags:  rd
        qdcount = 1, ancount = 0, nscount = 0, arcount = 0
 
QUESTIONS:
        5.5.9.192.in-addr.arpa, type = PTR, class = IN
 
Querying server (# 1) address = 192.9.5.1
got answer:
HEADER:
        opcode = QUERY, id = 2, rcode = NOERROR
        header flags:  qr aa rd ra
        qdcount = 1, ancount = 1, nscount = 0, arcount = 0
 
QUESTIONS:
        5.5.9.192.in-addr.arpa, type = PTR, class = IN
 
ANSWERS:
        5.5.9.192.in-addr.arpa
        type = PTR, class = IN, ttl = 7 hours 47 mins 2 secs, dlen = 23
        domain name = playground.sun.com

FILES

/usr/include/arpa/nameser.h
include file for implementation of DNS protocol

/usr/include/resolv.h include file for the resolver daemon (in.named)

SEE ALSO

nslookup(1M), resolver(3N)

SunOS 5.5  —  Last change: 7 Apr 1994