nslookup is a command-line tool used to query DNS servers and obtain domain-related information, such as IP addresses, mail servers, and other records. It is a helpful utility for network administrators and web hosting specialists when troubleshooting DNS issues. CentOS 6.3 is an older version of the CentOS operating system, and nslookup might not be installed by default.
In this short tutorial, we will explain how to install nslookup on CentOS 6.3 using the BIND Utilities package, which contains various DNS tools, including nslookup.
Step 1: Update Your System
Before installing any new software, it is a good practice to update your system. Run the following command to update your CentOS 6.3 system:
sudo yum update
Step 2: Install BIND Utilities
The nslookup tool is part of the BIND Utilities package. To install the package on CentOS 6.3, run the following command:
sudo yum install bind-utils
During the installation process, you may be prompted to confirm the installation. Press y and then Enter to continue.
The output:
Loaded plugins: fastestmirror, presto Loading mirror speeds from cached hostfile * base: ossm.utm.my * extras: ossm.utm.my * updates: ossm.utm.my CentOS6.3-Repository | 4.0 kB 00:00 ... Setting up Install Process Resolving Dependencies --> Running transaction check ---> Package bind-utils.i686 32:9.8.2-0.10.rc1.el6_3.2 will be installed --> Processing Dependency: bind-libs = 32:9.8.2-0.10.rc1.el6_3.2 for package: 32:bind-utils-9.8.2-0.10.rc1.el6_3.2.i686 --> Processing Dependency: liblwres.so.80 for package: 32:bind-utils-9.8.2-0.10.rc1.el6_3.2.i686 --> Processing Dependency: libisccfg.so.82 for package: 32:bind-utils-9.8.2-0.10.rc1.el6_3.2.i686 --> Processing Dependency: libisccc.so.80 for package: 32:bind-utils-9.8.2-0.10.rc1.el6_3.2.i686 --> Processing Dependency: libisc.so.83 for package: 32:bind-utils-9.8.2-0.10.rc1.el6_3.2.i686 --> Processing Dependency: libdns.so.81 for package: 32:bind-utils-9.8.2-0.10.rc1.el6_3.2.i686 --> Processing Dependency: libbind9.so.80 for package: 32:bind-utils-9.8.2-0.10.rc1.el6_3.2.i686 --> Running transaction check ---> Package bind-libs.i686 32:9.8.2-0.10.rc1.el6_3.2 will be installed --> Finished Dependency Resolution Dependencies Resolved ==================================================================================================== Package Arch Version Repository Size ==================================================================================================== Installing: bind-utils i686 32:9.8.2-0.10.rc1.el6_3.2 updates 180 k Installing for dependencies: bind-libs i686 32:9.8.2-0.10.rc1.el6_3.2 updates 882 k Transaction Summary ==================================================================================================== Install 2 Package(s) Total download size: 1.0 M Installed size: 2.7 M Downloading Packages: Setting up and reading Presto delta metadata Processing delta metadata Package(s) data still to download: 1.0 M (1/2): bind-libs-9.8.2-0.10.rc1.el6_3.2.i686.rpm | 882 kB 00:09 (2/2): bind-utils-9.8.2-0.10.rc1.el6_3.2.i686.rpm | 180 kB 00:01 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total 97 kB/s | 1.0 MB 00:10 Running rpm_check_debug Running Transaction Test Transaction Test Succeeded Running Transaction Installing : 32:bind-libs-9.8.2-0.10.rc1.el6_3.2.i686 1/2 Installing : 32:bind-utils-9.8.2-0.10.rc1.el6_3.2.i686 2/2 Verifying : 32:bind-utils-9.8.2-0.10.rc1.el6_3.2.i686 1/2 Verifying : 32:bind-libs-9.8.2-0.10.rc1.el6_3.2.i686 2/2 Installed: bind-utils.i686 32:9.8.2-0.10.rc1.el6_3.2 Dependency Installed: bind-libs.i686 32:9.8.2-0.10.rc1.el6_3.2 Complete!
Step 3: Verify nslookup Installation
Once the installation is complete, verify that nslookup has been installed correctly by running the following command:
nslookup example.com
Replace example.com with any domain you want to query. If nslookup is installed correctly, you should see output containing information about the domain’s DNS records.
For example:
nslookup google.com Server: 8.8.8.8 Address: 8.8.8.8#53 Non-authoritative answer: www.google.com canonical name = www.l.google.com. Name: www.l.google.com Address: 209.85.175.147 Name: www.l.google.com Address: 209.85.175.103 Name: www.l.google.com Address: 209.85.175.104 Name: www.l.google.com Address: 209.85.175.105 Name: www.l.google.com Address: 209.85.175.106 Name: www.l.google.com Address: 209.85.175.99
Commands Mentioned:
- sudo yum update – Updates the CentOS 6.3 system
- sudo yum install bind-utils – Installs the BIND Utilities package, including nslookup
- nslookup – Queries a domain’s DNS records
Conclusion
By following the steps in this guide, you have successfully installed nslookup on CentOS 6.3 using the BIND Utilities package. You can now use nslookup to query DNS records and troubleshoot DNS-related issues on your CentOS system. Remember that CentOS 6.3 is an older version of CentOS, and it is recommended to upgrade to a newer version for improved security and features.
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