DNS Debug & Setup Files
whois
- i.e "whois test.com"
- verify domain status is not "On Hold" causes anything resolving host name to IP to fail
- verify what name servers are pointed to and their IP's!

dig
"dig @205.158.16.5 test.com axfr" - test forward dns zone "test.com" xfer from name server
"dig @nic1.internex.net test.com axfr"
"dig @205.158.16.5 16.158.205.in-addr.arpa axfr" - test reverse dns zone transfer

named.conf or named.boot
- verify forward or reverse primary entries for zone
- verify forward or reverse secondary entries for zone

named-xfer
named-xfer -z test.com -f test 205.158.16.5
= zone transfer for "test.com" - paste into file "test" - pull zone info from "205.158.16.5"

Forward DNS via nslookup
nslookup nic1.internex.net - resolve name "nic1.internex.net" to IP

nslookup
set q=soa - (expire, time to live, retry and serial number values)
"domain.com"

set q=a - (host name to IP)
"hostname.domain.com" (i.e. "www.skunk.net" or "www.yourdomain.com")

set q=mx - (mail exchange)
"domain.com"

set q=ns - (name servers)
"domain.com"

set q=cname - (host name pointing to another host name)

set q=any - (SOA, NS, MX info plus A records for NS and MX lines)
"domain.com"

set q=hinfo - (historical info - view comments in file)

ls -d "domain.com" - (i.e. "ls -d skunk.net" - displays all forward dns info)

server "nic1.internex.net" - or other name server you wish to point to, to pull info

Reverse DNS
nslookup 205.158.16.5 - resolve IP "205.158.16.5" to name

nslookup
set q=ptr - (resolve IP to name)
"205.158.16.5" - will return the reverse dns host name associated with this IP

set q=soa - (expire, time to live, retry and serial number values)
"16.158.205.in-addr.arpa"

DNS File Setup

Forward DNS

Standard Forward Template - Full Class C

MX Records for a specific host

Round Robin - Web Servers

Round Robin - FTP Servers

named.boot

db.cache

Reverse DNS

Reverse Template - For Above Full Class C

Sub domains

Forward & Reverse - Primary & Secondary Entries

named.boot

Internic Root Servers List

db.cache

Suggestions... Send to: charly@skunk.net