How to Install nslookup on CentOS

nslookup is a part of the bind-utils package. Without bind-utils package installed, you will get the following error when you try to nslookup any domain:

[root@centos6 ~]# nslookup
-bash: nslookup: command not found

To install the nslookup in CentOS, simply run this command :

[root@centos6 ~]# yum install bind-utils
Loaded plugins: fastestmirror
Determining fastest mirrors
CentOS6.2-Repository                                                  | 1.3 kB     00:00 ...
CentOS6.2-Repository/primary                                          | 1.2 MB     00:00 ...
CentOS6.2-Repository                                                               3042/3042
Setting up Install Process
Resolving Dependencies
--> Running transaction check
---> Package bind-utils.i686 32:9.7.3-8.P3.el6 will be installed
--> Processing Dependency: bind-libs = 32:9.7.3-8.P3.el6 for package: 32:bind-utils-9.7.3-8.P3.el6.i686
--> Processing Dependency: liblwres.so.60 for package: 32:bind-utils-9.7.3-8.P3.el6.i686
--> Processing Dependency: libisccfg.so.62 for package: 32:bind-utils-9.7.3-8.P3.el6.i686
--> Processing Dependency: libisccc.so.60 for package: 32:bind-utils-9.7.3-8.P3.el6.i686
--> Processing Dependency: libisc.so.62 for package: 32:bind-utils-9.7.3-8.P3.el6.i686
--> Processing Dependency: libdns.so.69 for package: 32:bind-utils-9.7.3-8.P3.el6.i686
--> Processing Dependency: libbind9.so.60 for package: 32:bind-utils-9.7.3-8.P3.el6.i686
--> Running transaction check
---> Package bind-libs.i686 32:9.7.3-8.P3.el6 will be installed
--> Finished Dependency Resolution

Dependencies Resolved

=============================================================================================
 Package           Arch        Version                     Repository                   Size
=============================================================================================
Installing:
 bind-utils        i686        32:9.7.3-8.P3.el6           CentOS6.2-Repository        177 k
Installing for dependencies:
 bind-libs         i686        32:9.7.3-8.P3.el6           CentOS6.2-Repository        849 k

Transaction Summary
=============================================================================================
Install       2 Package(s)

Total download size: 1.0 M
Installed size: 2.6 M
Is this ok [y/N]: n
Exiting on user Command
[root@centos6 ~]# nslookup
-bash: nslookup: command not found
[root@centos6 ~]# yum install bind-utils
Loaded plugins: fastestmirror
Loading mirror speeds from cached hostfile
Setting up Install Process
Resolving Dependencies
--> Running transaction check
---> Package bind-utils.i686 32:9.7.3-8.P3.el6 will be installed
--> Processing Dependency: bind-libs = 32:9.7.3-8.P3.el6 for package: 32:bind-utils-9.7.3-8.P3.el6.i686
--> Processing Dependency: liblwres.so.60 for package: 32:bind-utils-9.7.3-8.P3.el6.i686
--> Processing Dependency: libisccfg.so.62 for package: 32:bind-utils-9.7.3-8.P3.el6.i686
--> Processing Dependency: libisccc.so.60 for package: 32:bind-utils-9.7.3-8.P3.el6.i686
--> Processing Dependency: libisc.so.62 for package: 32:bind-utils-9.7.3-8.P3.el6.i686
--> Processing Dependency: libdns.so.69 for package: 32:bind-utils-9.7.3-8.P3.el6.i686
--> Processing Dependency: libbind9.so.60 for package: 32:bind-utils-9.7.3-8.P3.el6.i686
--> Running transaction check
---> Package bind-libs.i686 32:9.7.3-8.P3.el6 will be installed
--> Finished Dependency Resolution

Dependencies Resolved

=============================================================================================
 Package           Arch        Version                     Repository                   Size
=============================================================================================
Installing:
 bind-utils        i686        32:9.7.3-8.P3.el6           CentOS6.2-Repository        177 k
Installing for dependencies:
 bind-libs         i686        32:9.7.3-8.P3.el6           CentOS6.2-Repository        849 k

Transaction Summary
=============================================================================================
Install       2 Package(s)

Total download size: 1.0 M
Installed size: 2.6 M
Is this ok [y/N]: y
Downloading Packages:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total                                                        6.1 MB/s | 1.0 MB     00:00
Running rpm_check_debug
Running Transaction Test
Transaction Test Succeeded
Running Transaction
  Installing : 32:bind-libs-9.7.3-8.P3.el6.i686                                          1/2
  Installing : 32:bind-utils-9.7.3-8.P3.el6.i686                                         2/2

Installed:
  bind-utils.i686 32:9.7.3-8.P3.el6

Dependency Installed:
  bind-libs.i686 32:9.7.3-8.P3.el6

Complete!

Now you can start use nslookup:

[root@centos6 ~]# nslookup
> www.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: 209.85.175.105
Name:   www.l.google.com
Address: 209.85.175.106
Name:   www.l.google.com
Address: 209.85.175.147
Name:   www.l.google.com
Address: 209.85.175.99
Name:   www.l.google.com
Address: 209.85.175.103
Name:   www.l.google.com
Address: 209.85.175.104
> set type=ns
> www.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.

Authoritative answers can be found from:
l.google.com
        origin = ns1.google.com
        mail addr = dns-admin.google.com
        serial = 1473322
        refresh = 900
        retry = 900
        expire = 1800
        minimum = 60
>