NSlookup commands – How to use them?

There are many commands that you can use on Linux, but just a few are that simple and yet useful as the Nslookup command. Small, fast, and handy, it is just a few lines from answering your questions about a domain. 

Nslookup, what is it?

The name of Nslookup breaks down to ns for nameserver and lookup for querying it. Nslookup is a software with a command-line interface that you can use from the Terminal and check domains, devices/IP addresses, or DNS records. You can use it on Linux, of course, but it is also available on macOS and even Windows. 

It comes pre-installed on most of the Linux distros, so you don’t need to download it yourself. Network admins like it because it is small, easy to use, and additional options can modify the query by choosing a port, timeout period, and more. The answers that the Nslookup command provides are simple and clean. 

By default, you will get IP address (if you checked domain) or domain (for reverse lookup), and it will show you if the answer came from authoritative or non-authoritative server. If you need more detailed answers and statistics, you can later use another software as an addition.  

If you need more detailed information, we suggest you to take a look at this article about Nslookup commands.