DNS Tools - Core
a core set of tools for querying DNS records

NSLOOKUP

Use an nslookup equivalent to retrieve many types of resource records including A, AAAA, NS, MX, PTR, TXT, SOA, CNAME, RRSIG, SRV and many more.

nslookup MX Query Screenshot

DiG

Actually two types of DiG (domain information groper). One is standard unix like and the other is the equivalent of DiG +trace. This is essentially the same data as nslookup except in a different format. 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.

DiG Screenshot

DiG +trace Screenshot

Get Basic DNS Records

This tool retrieves a set of DNS records from the Current DNS Server all at once. The records we request are A, AAAA, NS, MX, CNAME, PTR, and TXT.

Get Basic Records Screenshot

Zone Transfer (automatic or manual)

This tool can show all the devices registered in a DNS zone that defines a domain using a 'zone transfer' request. We provide two types of Zone Transfer: one attempts to automatically locate the Authoritative DNS to make the transfer possible and the other allows you to specify the Authoritative DNS for the Zone. DNS servers that implement 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 DNS protocol.

Zone Transfer Screenshot

Test Default DNS

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 (response time too) or communicating properly when a simple name resolution query is made by any internet enabled program.

Test Default DNS Screenshot

Flush Default DNS Cache

Flush Default DNS Cache does what it says - it clears your local cache of IP addresses and hostnames that were recently resolved. It accomplishes exactly the same thing as doing ipconfig /flushdns from the command line. This only affects names and IPs resolved by your TCP/IP networking subsystem, it does not affect anything resolved using our nslookup or dig tools.

Flush Default DNS Cache Screenshot

Hosts File Editor

The Hosts file is used by Windows (and other operating systems) as a local database for resolving hostnames to IP addresses and vice versa. If something is in the hosts file, TCP/IP uses the information found in the hosts file instead of querying DNS. The hosts file is a simple text file and we have provided an editor to help you manage it. NetScanTools Pro must be run using 'Run as administrator' in order to edit and save changes to the hosts file.

Hosts File Editor Screenshot