What is NSLOOKUP Windows command?

The NSLOOKUP command in Windows is a powerful tool for performing DNS lookups. It allows users to query domain name servers to obtain information about IP addresses and domain names. By using nslookup, users can troubleshoot network connectivity, check DNS records, and diagnose DNS-related issues effectively. This command provides valuable information for network administrators, IT professionals, and anyone looking to understand and manage DNS settings on a Windows system.

NSLOOKUP Syntax:

nslookup [Option] [Parameter]

NSLOOKUP Options:

Option	Description
-d	Enables debugging mode
-n	Disables the use of DNS server settings
-q=	Sets the query type (e.g., A, NS, CNAME, PTR)
-recurse	Queries the specified DNS server recursively
-timeout=	Sets the query timeout in seconds

Parameters:

Parameter	Description
Server	Specifies the DNS server to query
Name	Specifies the hostname to lookup
-port=	Specifies the port number to use for the DNS connection

NSLOOKUP Command Usage Examples:

Resolve an IP Address to a Hostname

nslookup 8.8.8.8

Uses nslookup to resolve the IP address “8.8.8.8” to its corresponding hostname.

Find the IP Address of a Domain

nslookup www.google.com

Queries the DNS server to find the IP address associated with the domain “www.google.com”.

Set the DNS Server to Query

nslookup
server 8.8.8.8
www.microsoft.com

Changes the DNS server to “8.8.8.8” and then looks up the IP address of “www.microsoft.com”.

Reverse Lookup of an IP Address

nslookup -type=PTR 8.8.8.8

Performs a reverse lookup on the IP address “8.8.8.8” to find the associated hostname.

Display Detailed Information

nslookup -type=all www.example.com

Retrieves all available information for the domain “www.example.com” from the DNS server.

How do I use nslookup in Windows?

To use the nslookup command in CMD, execute the following command:

nslookup google.com

How to perform a reverse DNS lookup with nslookup?

To perform a reverse DNS lookup using nslookup in Windows CMD, use the following command structure:

nslookup <IP address>

How can I specify a different DNS server with nslookup?

To specify a different DNS server when using nslookup in Windows, you can use the following command format:

nslookup google.com <DNS server>

How do I query for specific types of DNS records with nslookup?

To query specific types of DNS records using nslookup in Windows CMD, use the following format:

nslookup -type=<record type> <domain>

How can I enable or disable the recursion feature in nslookup?

To enable or disable the recursion feature in nslookup in Windows, use the following commands:

nslookup -recurse <domain>
nslookup -norecurse <domain>

How do I set a timeout value for nslookup queries in Windows?

To set a specific timeout value for nslookup queries in Windows CMD, use the following command structure:

nslookup -timeout=<value> <domain>

How can I perform a debug query using nslookup in Windows?

To perform a debug query using nslookup in Windows CMD, use the following command:

nslookup -debug <domain>

How to save nslookup query results to a text file?

To save the nslookup query results to a text file in Windows CMD, you can use the following command structure:

nslookup google.com > nslookup_results.txt

Applications of the NSLOOKUP Command

Troubleshooting DNS-related issues
Checking DNS records for a domain
Finding the IP address associated with a domain
Verifying name resolution
Checking the DNS server configuration
Testing DNS server response times