Introduction

To verify that your DNS settings are correct and your client or server is able to resolve IP addresses and host names use the nslookup command. The command is available on Linux and Windows.

Forward Lookup

To resolve a host name its IP address:

# nslookup DC1.samdom.example.com
Server:         10.99.0.1
Address:        10.99.0.1#53

Name:   DC1.samdom.example.com
Address: 10.99.0.1

Reverse Lookup

To resolve a IP address to its host name:

# nslookup 10.99.0.1
Server:        10.99.0.1
Address:	10.99.0.1#53

1.0.99.10.in-addr.arpa	name = DC1.samdom.example.com.

Note that in a Samba AD, the reverse zone is not automatically configured. To set up a reverse zone, see DNS Administration.

Resolving SRV Records

Active Directory (AD) uses SRV records to locate services, such as Kerberos and LDAP. To verify that SRV records are resolved correctly, use the nslookup interactive shell:

# nslookup
Default Server:  10.99.0.1
Address:  10.99.0.1

> set type=SRV
> _ldap._tcp.samdom.example.com.
Server:  UnKnown
Address:  10.99.0.1

_ldap._tcp.samdom.example.com   SRV service location:
          priority       = 0
          weight         = 100
          port           = 389
          svr hostname   = dc1.samdom.example.com
samdom.example.com      nameserver = dc1.samdom.example.com
dc1.samdom.example.com  internet address = 10.99.0.1

Error Messages

The DNS server is not able to resolve the host name:

** server can't find DC1.samdom.example.com: NXDOMAIN

The DNS server is not able to resolve the IP address:

** server can't find 1.0.99.10.in-addr.arpa: NXDOMAIN

The DNS server used is not available:

;; connection timed out; no servers could be reached