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Lesson 7

DNS nslookup Program Conclusion

esource Records

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This module explored DNS and used the nslookup program to explore the DNS database. Now that you have completed this module, you should be able to:
  1. Explain the basic use of the nslookup program
  2. Use nslookup to read other types of Resource Records
  3. Use nslookup to use a different name server and to list an entire zone
  4. Describe the components of the BIND package
  5. Define the elements of the name server configuration file

Key terms

In this module, we used the following terms:
  1. BIND (Berkeley Internet Name Daemon) is the software that sets up a name server on a UNIX system.
  2. name server configuration file: The name server configuration file (/etc/named.boot) is a simple text file in which comment lines are indicated with a semicolon (;).
    Each line of the file addresses some aspect of name server configuration.
  3. root cache file: A root cache file is one of the name server data files and is used to prime the name server with the addresses of the root servers.

Commands and files

In this module, we discussed the following commands and files:

Command Purpose
ls Used by the nslookup program to list a domain
nslookup Debugging tool for generating DNS queries
server Used by the nslookup program to allow a different name server from the one listed in the /etc/resolv.conf file
set type Used by the nslookup program to retrieve other kinds of Resource Records from the DNS database besides A and PTR records

Files Purpose
/etc/resolv.conf Used by the nslookup program to locate the name server
/etc/named.boot Configuration file for the name server daemon

Examining DNS Quiz

Click the Quiz link below to take a multiple-choice quiz covering what you learned in this module.
Examining DNS Quiz