Domain & DNS Tools

These tools allow you to query and discover information about domains and the DNS system.

Dig
Domain Whois
SPF Record Analyser

Dig

"Dig" is a tool on Unix and Linux servers that queries the Domain Name System for DNS records.

About the Dig tool

Computers use the Domain Name System (or DNS for short) to convert human-readable domain names (e.g. www.soliddevtools.com) into an IPv4 address (e.g. 109.228.50.239) or an IPv6 address (e.g. 2a00:da00:1800:15a::1).

DNS records also store information about the millions of domains and websites that are on the Internet - such as an approved list of servers that can send mail on your domain's behalf (known as SPF records.)

Use Cases

Use the Dig tool on Solid Tools for Developers to:

Find the IP address of a website
Check if a DNS record exists
Check if a change made in DNS has been published

Usage

Enter a DNS record you wish to query in the "Domain name/record" field - e.g. www.google.com.

If you wish to query a specific DNS server, enter it's hostname or IP address in the "DNS server" field. If you don't know what this is, leave it as localhost.

Select the type of record you would like to query. For example: to find the IP address of a domain name, use the query type A (IP address).

By default, Solid Tools for Developers will use its own DNS server to return your results. This may include cached data if the record was recently queried. To force the use of "live" data, tick the "Trace" option.

Results

The complete output from the "Dig" tool will be displayed.

The "flags" line at the top will include a line like QUERY: 1, ANSWER: 1, AUTHORITY: 4. The figure next to ANSWER will tell you how many results were found.

The results themselves will be displayed under the section labelled ;; ANSWER SECTION.

The following example shows a successful query to find the IPv4 address of www.google.com:

; <<>> DiG 9.10.3-P4-Ubuntu <<>> @localhost  www.google.com A
; (2 servers found)
;; global options: +cmd
;; Got answer:
;; ->>HEADER<<- opcode: QUERY, status: NOERROR, id: 25982
;; flags: qr rd ra; QUERY: 1, ANSWER: 1, AUTHORITY: 4, ADDITIONAL: 5

;; OPT PSEUDOSECTION:
; EDNS: version: 0, flags:; udp: 4096
;; QUESTION SECTION:
;www.google.com.			IN	A

;; ANSWER SECTION:
www.google.com.		300	IN	A	216.58.213.100

;; AUTHORITY SECTION:
google.com.		172800	IN	NS	ns2.google.com.
google.com.		172800	IN	NS	ns3.google.com.
google.com.		172800	IN	NS	ns1.google.com.
google.com.		172800	IN	NS	ns4.google.com.

;; ADDITIONAL SECTION:
ns1.google.com.		172800	IN	A	216.239.32.10
ns2.google.com.		172800	IN	A	216.239.34.10
ns3.google.com.		172800	IN	A	216.239.36.10
ns4.google.com.		172800	IN	A	216.239.38.10

;; Query time: 109 msec
;; SERVER: ::1#53(::1)
;; WHEN: Wed Dec 06 11:48:51 GMT 2017
;; MSG SIZE  rcvd: 195

Domain Whois

"Whois" is a tool on Unix and Linux servers that queries WHOIS servers for ownership of domains, IP addresses and networks.

About the Domain WHOIS Lookup tool

Computers use the Domain Name System (or DNS for short) to convert human-readable domain names (e.g. soliddevtools.com) into an IPv4 address (e.g. 109.228.50.239) or an IPv6 address (e.g. 2a00:da00:1800:15a::1).

You can perform a query known as "WHOIS" to identify which organisation a domain name belongs to.

Use Cases

Use the Domain WHOIS tool on Solid Tools for Developers to:

Identify which organisation is responsible for a domain name
Find out who to contact about a domain name

Usage

Enter a domain name (without the "www") in the "domain name" field.

Results

The raw output from the WHOIS database will be displayed.

The following example shows a WHOIS lookup for soliddevtools.com.

  Domain Name: SOLIDDEVTOOLS.COM
  Registry Domain ID: 2171825417_DOMAIN_COM-VRSN
  Registrar WHOIS Server: whois.1api.net
  Registrar URL: http://www.1api.net
  Updated Date: 2023-11-10T12:52:47Z
  Creation Date: 2017-10-08T16:54:08Z
  Registry Expiry Date: 2028-10-08T16:54:08Z
  Registrar: 1API GmbH
  Registrar IANA ID: 1387
  Registrar Abuse Contact Email: abuse@1api.net
  Registrar Abuse Contact Phone: +49.68949396850
  Domain Status: clientTransferProhibited https://icann.org/epp#clientTransferProhibited
  Name Server: NS1.DNSIMPLE.COM
  Name Server: NS2.DNSIMPLE-EDGE.NET
  Name Server: NS3.DNSIMPLE.COM
  Name Server: NS4.DNSIMPLE-EDGE.ORG
  DNSSEC: signedDelegation
  DNSSEC DS Data: 63451 8 2 5ADDD7E73699F49C156B53C35884F503B830057A1A9F6197CC002BFDEFB7F0E9
  URL of the ICANN Whois Inaccuracy Complaint Form: https://www.icann.org/wicf/
  >>> Last update of whois database: 2023-12-12T19:45:15Z <<<
  
  For more information on Whois status codes, please visit https://icann.org/epp
  
  NOTICE: The expiration date displayed in this record is the date the
  registrar's sponsorship of the domain name registration in the registry is
  currently set to expire. This date does not necessarily reflect the expiration
  date of the domain name registrant's agreement with the sponsoring
  registrar.  Users may consult the sponsoring registrar's Whois database to
  view the registrar's reported date of expiration for this registration.
  
  TERMS OF USE: You are not authorized to access or query our Whois
  database through the use of electronic processes that are high-volume and
  automated except as reasonably necessary to register domain names or
  modify existing registrations; the Data in VeriSign Global Registry
  Services' ("VeriSign") Whois database is provided by VeriSign for
  information purposes only, and to assist persons in obtaining information
  about or related to a domain name registration record. VeriSign does not
  guarantee its accuracy. By submitting a Whois query, you agree to abide
  by the following terms of use: You agree that you may use this Data only
  for lawful purposes and that under no circumstances will you use this Data
  to: (1) allow, enable, or otherwise support the transmission of mass
  unsolicited, commercial advertising or solicitations via e-mail, telephone,
  or facsimile; or (2) enable high volume, automated, electronic processes
  that apply to VeriSign (or its computer systems). The compilation,
  repackaging, dissemination or other use of this Data is expressly
  prohibited without the prior written consent of VeriSign. You agree not to
  use electronic processes that are automated and high-volume to access or
  query the Whois database except as reasonably necessary to register
  domain names or modify existing registrations. VeriSign reserves the right
  to restrict your access to the Whois database in its sole discretion to ensure
  operational stability.  VeriSign may restrict or terminate your access to the
  Whois database for failure to abide by these terms of use. VeriSign
  reserves the right to modify these terms at any time.
  
  The Registry database contains ONLY .COM, .NET, .EDU domains and
  Registrars.
  
  Domain Name: SOLIDDEVTOOLS.COM
  Registry Domain ID: 2171825417_DOMAIN_COM-VRSN
  Registrar WHOIS Server: whois.1api.net
  Registrar URL: http://www.1api.net
  Updated Date: 2023-11-10T12:52:47Z
  Creation Date: 2017-10-08T16:54:08Z
  Registrar Registration Expiration Date: 2028-10-08T16:54:08Z
  Registrar: 1API GmbH
  Registrar IANA ID: 1387
  Registrar Abuse Contact Email: abuse@1api.net
  Registrar Abuse Contact Phone: +49.68949396x850
  Reseller: DNSimple https://dnsimple.com
  Domain Status: clientTransferProhibited - http://www.icann.org/epp#clientTransferProhibited
  Registry Registrant ID: 
  Registrant Name: c/o WHOIStrustee.com Limited
  Registrant Organization: Registrant of soliddevtools.com
  Registrant Street: 6 Thornes Office Park Monckton Road
  Registrant City: Wakefield
  Registrant State/Province: West Yorkshire
  Registrant Postal Code: WF2 7AN
  Registrant Country: GB
  Registrant Phone: +49.68416984300
  Registrant Phone Ext: 
  Registrant Fax: 
  Registrant Fax Ext: 
  Registrant Email: bfc0ea6438@soliddevtools.com.whoistrustee.com
  Registry Admin ID: 
  Admin Name: c/o WHOIStrustee.com Limited
  Admin Organization: Registrant of soliddevtools.com
  Admin Street: 6 Thornes Office Park Monckton Road
  Admin City: Wakefield
  Admin State/Province: West Yorkshire
  Admin Postal Code: WF2 7AN
  Admin Country: GB
  Admin Phone: +49.68416984300
  Admin Phone Ext: 
  Admin Fax: 
  Admin Fax Ext: 
  Admin Email: bfc0ea6438@soliddevtools.com.whoistrustee.com
  Registry Tech ID: 
  Tech Name: c/o WHOIStrustee.com Limited
  Tech Organization: Registrant of soliddevtools.com
  Tech Street: 6 Thornes Office Park Monckton Road
  Tech City: Wakefield
  Tech State/Province: West Yorkshire
  Tech Postal Code: WF2 7AN
  Tech Country: GB
  Tech Phone: +49.68416984300
  Tech Phone Ext: 
  Tech Fax: 
  Tech Fax Ext: 
  Tech Email: bfc0ea6438@soliddevtools.com.whoistrustee.com
  Name Server: ns1.dnsimple.com 162.159.24.4 2400:cb00:2049:0001:0000:0000:a29f:1804
  Name Server: ns3.dnsimple.com 162.159.26.4 2400:cb00:2049:0001:0000:0000:a29f:1a04
  Name Server: ns4.dnsimple-edge.org
  Name Server: ns2.dnsimple-edge.net 199.247.153.53 2620:0111:8005:0000:0000:0000:0000:0053
  DNSSEC: signedDelegation
  URL of the ICANN WHOIS Data Problem Reporting System:
  http://wdprs.internic.net/
  >>> Last update of WHOIS database: 2023-12-12T19:45:36Z <<<
  
  For more information on Whois status codes, please visit https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/epp-status-codes-2014-06-16-en.
  
  ; This data is provided for information purposes, and to assist persons
  ; obtaining information about or related to domain name registration
  ; records. We do not guarantee its accuracy.
  ; By submitting a WHOIS query, you agree that you will use this data
  ; only for lawful purposes and that, under no circumstances, you will
  ; use this data to
  ; 1) allow, enable, or otherwise support the transmission of mass
  ;    unsolicited, commercial advertising or solicitations via E-mail
  ;    (spam); or
  ; 2) enable high volume, automated, electronic processes that apply
  ;    to this WHOIS server.
  ; These terms may be changed without prior notice.
  ; By submitting this query, you agree to abide by this policy.
  
  ; Buy, connect, and operate your domains like a pro.
  ; Visit dnsimple.com to get started with domain management automation!

SPF Record Analyser

SPF records indicate what servers (IP addresses) are allowed to send mail for a domain.

About the SPF Record Analyser tool

To reduce spammers from sending e-mail that appears to come from your domain (known as e-mail spoofing) you can publish an SPF record to your domain name's DNS records.

An SPF record tells receiving mail servers which servers are explicitly allowed to send e-mail that comes from your domain name.

It is strongly recommended you publish an SPF record to prevent e-mail spoofing. You can use the SPF Record Analyser to validate your record applies the rules you expect.

Use Cases

Use the SPF Record Analyser tool on Solid Tools for Developers to:

Check if your SPF record is published in DNS
Check your SPF record is valid and allows the servers you expect
Validate a record before you publish it in DNS

Usage

If you wish to test a live SPF record, enter the domain name the SPF record belongs to in the "Domain name to check" field.

If you wish to test a record before publishing it, enter the content of the record in the "SPF record text" field.

Results

Whichever option you have chosen, the results will be the same.

The actual SPF record analysed will be displayed, followed by a breakdown of the servers that are present in the SPF record, and an indication of whether they are authorised to send e-mails on behalf of the domain.

The example below shows the analysis of the SPF record for simplyremind.me. This record imports the SPF rules from the amazonses.com domain, which in turn allows the following IP addresses to send e-mails addressed from @simplyremind.me: 199.255.192.0/22, 199.127.232.0/22 and 54.240.0.0/18.