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NSlookup commands – How to use them?

There are many commands that you can use on Linux, but just a few are that simple and yet useful as the Nslookup command. Small, fast, and handy, it is just a few lines from answering your questions about a domain. 

Nslookup, what is it?

The name of Nslookup breaks down to ns for nameserver and lookup for querying it. Nslookup is a software with a command-line interface that you can use from the Terminal and check domains, devices/IP addresses, or DNS records. You can use it on Linux, of course, but it is also available on macOS and even Windows. 

It comes pre-installed on most of the Linux distros, so you don’t need to download it yourself. Network admins like it because it is small, easy to use, and additional options can modify the query by choosing a port, timeout period, and more. The answers that the Nslookup command provides are simple and clean. 

By default, you will get IP address (if you checked domain) or domain (for reverse lookup), and it will show you if the answer came from authoritative or non-authoritative server. If you need more detailed answers and statistics, you can later use another software as an addition.  

If you need more detailed information, we suggest you to take a look at this article about Nslookup commands.

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How to use the Ping command on Linux?

Are you looking for information on how to use the Ping command in Linux? Great! You’ve come to the right place. Why? Because we will explain this in this article. In addition, we will discuss why it is beneficial and how to install it. So, let’s start.

What does the Ping command stand for?

The Ping command is a software tool to check the connectivity between two systems. Alternatively put, a host’s ability to be reached on a network.

The software designed for configuring, analyzing, maintaining or optimizing machines is known as utility software. This is because it supports the hardware of computers. In addition, all operating systems come with the Ping, a very well-liked diagnostic tool.

Learn more about the Ping command syntax!

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What is DNS cache and how does it work?

You’ve come to the right place if you’re looking for an explanation of DNS cache. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at its purpose, as well as its function and benefits.

DNS cache purpose

DNS cache memory is a type of temporary cache memory used by DNS resolvers and other devices. Initially applied DNS records of searched domain names are retained in that memory. These records contain the domain names’ IP addresses (IPv4 or IPv6), as well as information about their email server, information about their services, authentication and verification data, and more. The DNS cache will save all of the data. However, as aforementioned, it will only be for a limited period of time, as set by the TTL (Time to Live) number assigned to each DNS record.

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Popular DNS record types you can check through your Linux device

There are a lot of different DNS record types. Yet, some of them are more well-known. That is because they are more commonly implemented in DNS (Domain Name System) configurations. So, let’s explain a little bit more about the most popular DNS record types: 

NS record

For this record, NS stands for Name Server. Its main goal is to indicate the Authoritative DNS server for a domain name. The NS record is also one of the crucial DNS record types for achieving proper DNS configuration.

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How to perform Reverse DNS lookup in Linux?

Reverse DNS lookup is another interesting topic that is not often discussed. As a Linux user, you have several different options to perform it. So, let’s talk a little bit more about it and how you can do it.

Reverse DNS – What is it? 

Reverse DNS or rDNS is a very beneficial service that supplies Reverse DNS zones for your domain name. The Reverse DNS zones are required for storing PTR records which are utilized for verification purposes. For instance, to check the IP address and if it points to the proper hostname.

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What is Linux Kernel – Everything you need to know.

The Kernel is the core of an operating system (OS). Linux Kernel is already three decades old and closes to 30 million code lines. Right now, it’s running on desktops, laptops, tablets, routers, servers, smartphones, lots of Internet of Things, and the most powerful computers in the world. 

To talk about the Linux Kernel can go very long. Let’s check exactly what you need to know about it. 

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Linux Manjaro vs Linux Mint (comparison)

What is Linux Manjaro?

Linux Manjaro is a free and open-source (GNU license) Linux distro based on Arch Linux. It is well-suited for developers, for home use or office. What distinguishes it from other Linux distros is that it offers full control over the hardware and software and very good performance. The desktop environments available are KDE Plasma, XFCE, and GNOME. You can customize the desktop environment with widgets and themes.

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What is Traceroute command?

Traceroute command explained

Traceroute is a built-in command with a command-line interface that you can use through the Terminal application. It serves as a diagnostic tool most commonly used to trace a route from the computer, sending the traceroute request to a hostname or IP address. It will send the query and get back a result, showing the query’s route and statistics about time and packets lost. 

You can find Traceroute on Linux (almost all distros), macOS, Windows (there it is called tracert), and even Android (though you will need extra installation). 

The software’s benefits are that it is free, easy to use, and serves well its purpose of tracing the route to a target.  

How does traceroute work?

When you are using the traceroute, your device will send packets of data starting from your IP address, going through various hops, and reaching its target – hostname or IP address. The software will use packets with a short TTL (time to live) value and listen for the ICMP replays. The probes continue until a message “port unreachable (ICMP) or rest (TCP), which will indicate host. 

As a result, you will see TTLs, addresses of the hops, and round time per probe, and extra data if you used some of the options.   

If you need more detailed information about the Traceroute command we recommend you this article – Traceroute command and its options

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What is the Linux Dig command?

Get ready to learn about a built-in utility tool that you can find on most Linux distros and use for domain probing. The tool is called Dig.

What is the Dig command?

Dig command is a built-in Linux command that you can access through the Terminal application and perform DNS queries. The full name is Domain Information Groper. You can troubleshoot your domain, get all kinds of information about it, including DNS records, name servers, and general network data. What is awesome about it is that it has more functionality than some other built-in tools like nslookup, and it is very easy to use. This is why many network administrators are using it daily, despite its basic command-line interface. 

If you are interested in Dig commands we recommend you to look at this article – 10 most used Dig commands!

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Linux host command explained

What is the Linux host command?

The Linux Host command is utility software for DNS probing that you get pre-installed on most Linux distros like – Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Red Hat, CentOS, Arch Linux, and more.

Linux Host command can show you different information for the host, its IP addresses, DNS records, and check name servers.

It does not have a graphical interface, but its CLI is enough to display all the information needed. It is a very light and fast tool that can show you information about DNS records like A, AAAA, MX, NS, SOA, and more. You could have already guessed. It can show you information about the host like its IP addresses and more.

What is the purpose of the Linux Host command?

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How to use the MTR command?

How to use the MTR command on Linux?

It is very easy to use the MTR command through the Terminal on your Linux computer. Just follow these 3 steps:

  1. First, you need to be an administrator. That means to have a Linux account with sudo privileges.
  2. Second, you will need to install it. The MTR command is not pre-installed like other popular commands. The package name is “mtr”. For that purpose, you will need to execute one of the following commands, depending on your Linux distro:

Ubuntu, Debian, Linux Mint, and others based on Ubuntu or Debian:

sudo apt-get install mtr

Red Hat, CentOS, and Fedora:

sudo yum install mtr

Arch Linux, Manjaro Linux, and other Arch-based:

pacman -Sy pacman -S mtr

  1. Third, use the basic MTR command or combine it with some of the options that you have for it. See the complete list of options below. 

Basic MTR command: 

mtr domain.com 

*Change the domain name with the one you want. 

Suggested article: What is Traceroute command?

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