Host, a command-line DNS query tool, is a comprehensive and potent software that enables users to perform DNS testing and queries with ease.
"Host" is a powerful command-line based DNS query and testing tool that provides an extensive range of testing and test automation features along with a standard (i.e. Unix-based) command-line user interface. It has many similar basic features to other similar tools such as nslookup and dig.
The program has undergone a major overhaul of the entire code and has very rigid error checking, with more verbose error messages. The zone listing section has been completely rewritten; it is now possible to do recursive listings into delegated zones, maintaining resource record statistics and counting of hosts during zone listings, as well as checking for various extraneous conditions during zone listings.
The software also checks for illegal domain names containing invalid characters and verifies that certain domain names represent canonical host names. It performs TTL consistency checking during zone listings and exploits multiple server addresses if available. There are options to exploit only the primary server for zone transfers and exclude info from names that do not reside in a zone.
The software also implements timeout handling during connect and read, writes resource record output to an optional log file, and has a special mode to check SOA records at each nameserver for a zone. It implements new resource record types from RFC 1183 and 1348, basic experimental NSAP support as defined in RFC 1637 and new resource record types from RFC 1664 and 1712, and RFC 1876 and 1886.
The software code is extensively documented, and the extended syntax allows multiple arguments on the command line or stdin. The product also includes configurable default options in HOST_DEFAULTS environment variable.
The latest release of the program introduces some minor bugfixes and cleanup to the address/hostname verification (host -A) code. Overall, Host is a comprehensive and efficient DNS query and testing tool for professionals who require detailed information about DNS systems.
The program has undergone a major overhaul of the entire code and has very rigid error checking, with more verbose error messages. The zone listing section has been completely rewritten; it is now possible to do recursive listings into delegated zones, maintaining resource record statistics and counting of hosts during zone listings, as well as checking for various extraneous conditions during zone listings.
The software also checks for illegal domain names containing invalid characters and verifies that certain domain names represent canonical host names. It performs TTL consistency checking during zone listings and exploits multiple server addresses if available. There are options to exploit only the primary server for zone transfers and exclude info from names that do not reside in a zone.
The software also implements timeout handling during connect and read, writes resource record output to an optional log file, and has a special mode to check SOA records at each nameserver for a zone. It implements new resource record types from RFC 1183 and 1348, basic experimental NSAP support as defined in RFC 1637 and new resource record types from RFC 1664 and 1712, and RFC 1876 and 1886.
The software code is extensively documented, and the extended syntax allows multiple arguments on the command line or stdin. The product also includes configurable default options in HOST_DEFAULTS environment variable.
The latest release of the program introduces some minor bugfixes and cleanup to the address/hostname verification (host -A) code. Overall, Host is a comprehensive and efficient DNS query and testing tool for professionals who require detailed information about DNS systems.
What's New
Version 20070128: N/A