This article explains steps and available options to check registration and DNS specifics for a domain name. The following steps require terminal access. The commands listed below will help with information gathering in regards to finding the registrar and nameserver values being used for a domains. Individual DNS records that are propagated on the web can also be viewed.
Gather DNS Information
REPLACE: Ensure anytime domain.com is used below, it is replaced by the actual domain name information needed when running any terminal commands.
- To check for the specific nameservers on a registered domain, run the following command in a terminal
whois domain.com
NOTE: WHOIS contains specific domain registration details such as expiration date, registrar, and nameservers.
TIP: Searching a domain name on whois.com is also an option to check domain registration details. - To check for the propagated DNS A record on a registered domain, run the following command in a terminal
dig domain.com
TIP: Searching a domain name on whatsmydns.net is also an option to check DNS on a domain. - To check for a certain type of DNS record (MX, CNAME, TXT) place the record type in the command as shown below
dig mx domain.com
- To check how the DNS is pushing at the Nameserver level, add @nameserver to the dig command to see what the records are propagating for that nameserver
dig @nameserver domain.com
REPLACE: Nameserver with the Nameserver that you are trying to dig.
EXAMPLE: If this were for Web Hosting Hub's Nameservers, it would be @ns1.webhostinghub.com.