Linux in a Nutshell, Fourth Edition

Name

dig

Synopsis

                  dig [@
                  server] [options] [name] [type] [class] [query-options]
dig @
                  server 
                  name 
                  type
                  dig 
                  -h
               

The dig command is used to query DNS servers; it is more flexible than the deprecated nslookup command. If you use it without any options or arguments, it will search for the root server. The standard arguments are:

server

The server to query. If no server is supplied, dig will check the name servers listed in /etc/resolv.conf. The address may be an IPv4 dotted address or an IPv6 colon-delimited address. It may also be a hostname, which dig will resolve (through the name servers in /etc/resolv.conf).

name

The domain name to look up.

type

The type of query to perform, such as A, ANY, MX, SIG, and so forth. The default is A, but you may use any valid BIND9 query type.

Options

You may use the following option flags with dig:

-b address

Set the source IP address for the query.

-c class

Set the class of query. The default value is IN (internet), but you can choose HS for Hesiod or CH for CHAOSNET.

-f filename

Operate in batch mode, performing the queries in the file you specify.

-p portnumber

Choose the port number for the query. The default value is the standard DNS port, 53.

-t type

Set the type of query, as with the query argument. The default value is A, but you may use any valid BIND9 query.

-x addr

Use the -x flag for reverse lookups, specifying an IPv4 or IPv6 address. You do not need the name, class, or type arguments if you use the -x flag.

-k filename

Specify a TSIG key file; used ...