The host utility is recommended for performing DNS lookups. Without any
arguments, host displays a summary of its command-line arguments and
options. For example, look up the IP address for host01
:
$ host host01
Perform a reverse lookup for the domain name that corresponds to an IP address:
$ host 192.168.2.101
Query DNS for the IP address that corresponds to a domain:
$ host dns.us.mydoc.com
Use the -v and -t options to display verbose information about records of a certain type:
$ host -v -t MX www.mydom.com
Trying "www.mydom.com"
;; ->>HEADER<<- opcode: QUERY, status: NOERROR, id: 49643
;; flags: qr rd ra; QUERY: 1, ANSWER: 2, AUTHORITY: 1, ADDITIONAL: 0
;; QUESTION SECTION:
;www.mydom.com. IN MX
;; ANSWER SECTION:
www.mydom.com. 135 IN CNAME www.mydom.com.acme.net.
www.mydom.com.acme.net. 1240 IN CNAME d4077.c.miscacme.net.
;; AUTHORITY SECTION:
c.miscacme.net. 2000 IN SOA m0e.miscacme.net. hostmaster.misc.com. ...
Received 163 bytes from 10.0.0.1#53 in 40 ms
The -a option (equivalent to -v -t ANY) displays all available records for a zone:
$ host -a www.us.mydom.com
Trying "www.us.mydom.com"
;; ->>HEADER<<- opcode: QUERY, status: NOERROR, id: 40030
;; flags: qr rd ra; QUERY: 1, ANSWER: 1, AUTHORITY: 0, ADDITIONAL: 0
;; QUESTION SECTION:
;www.us.mydom.com. IN ANY
;; ANSWER SECTION:
www.us.mydom.com. 263 IN CNAME www.us.mydom.acme.net.
Received 72 bytes from 10.0.0.1#53 in 32 ms
For more information, see the host(1)
manual page.