DNS question

[matt37]

How do I check which DNS server is authoritative for the zone? Command line tool? How to do it with Nslookup?
Thanks

 

[randal]

c:\>nslookup

> set type=ns
> google.com
Server: {your_dns_will_show_up_here}
Address: {your_dns_server_ip_here}

Non-authoritative answer:
google.com nameserver = ns2.google.com
google.com nameserver = ns3.google.com
google.com nameserver = ns4.google.com
google.com nameserver = ns1.google.com

ns2.google.com internet address = 216.239.34.10
ns3.google.com internet address = 216.239.36.10
ns4.google.com internet address = 216.239.38.10
ns1.google.com internet address = 216.239.32.10
>exit

c:\>

In this case, the authoritative servers are reporting to be ns1, ns2, ns3 & ns4.google.com, with their respective IPs being listed. (note: this came back as non-authoritative because I happen to have it cached - this will almost always (barring DNS problems) report the correct authoritative NS servers for a domain)

Alternatively, you can go to http://www.networksolutions.com/en_US/whois/index.jhtml, enter in the domain name and it will spit out the DNS servers.

 

[matt37]

Exactly what I needed! Thanks so much.

Now I wonder how do you set up 4 (or more than 1) DNS servers to be authoritative/replay for the same zone as in google example??

I thought that only one DNS server can be authoritative for a zone?

This is for Windows 2000 environment.

 

[randal]

If it is non-Internet domain, you simply add it to the zone list and it automatically becomes authoritative by default. If it is a .com/.net/.org, your registrar (godaddy, network solutions etc) will ask for and maintain a list of authoritative DNS servers for your domain. This is usually administered through some sort of web control panel and is -not- done on your DNS server directly.