The DNS Query tool offers the functionality of the command line programs like nslookup or dig. The main function of DNS is to offer a system where the IP Address (10.5.99.1) can be resolved to the Fully Qualified Domain Name (www.ping-probe.com).
To perform a basic lookup add the domain into the Query box (i.e. www.ping-probe.com). Select the type of record you wish to query, under type (for the www.ping-probe.com example you should select A). Click on the Go button and the results will be shown.
A big advantage with this tool is that the query can be made to multiple servers at the same time. This is often very useful. DNS administrators normally administer a primary DNS server and a number of DNS secondary servers. Often all servers are expected to give the same response. To test each and every server by hand can be tedious. It is often beneficial to query down steam servers to ensure changes have in fact propagated through the net.
Any number of servers can be queried at a time. Click on the advanced button and a list box will show the servers that will be queried. If the list is empty, the computer default DNS server will be used. If you wish to add an entry then type in the server's IP and click on the Add button. To Remove a server select the server from the list and click on the Del button.
Table 11.1. Advanced DNS Properties
| Servers | A list of servers that will be queried for each query. |
| Server | The IP address of the server you wish to add. |
| Add | Once a Server IP has been entered, the Add button will add the server to the list. |
| Del | A server selected in the Servers list can be deleted with this button |