5 Must Have Tools to Diagnose DNS Problems Like a Pro

Domain names are more than just website addresses. They are gateways to online identities. Behind every domain, a DNS (Domain Name System) is working, which helps users connect to things online, such as websites, apps, cloud services, etc.

If there’s something wrong with the DNS record of a domain, it can lead to severe consequences such as:

• Websites fail to load
• Emails go undelivered
• App operations interrupted

To avoid the above, it is recommended that DNS diagnostics be carried out. Many online tools are available to help you diagnose DNS records. In this post, we will tell you about five such tools.

Why DNS Diagnostics Matter?

DNS, also called the Internet's phone book, translates the domain names into IP addresses.

Why so?

Because computers use IP addresses to communicate between websites and devices via a network. When DNS works smoothly, users never notice it.

But when it breaks, Ah!

Everything halts.

That is why you need to diagnose the DNS problem to ensure your online assets run smoothly.

Below are some common problems that can occur because of an error in DNS.

• Errors in DNS can make your website or services inaccessible for users; diagnostics help you prevent that.
• Errors in DNS records, such as MX, SPF, or TXT, affect the email delivery. They can make your emails bounce or end up in the spam box.
• Cybercriminals often manipulate DNS by spoofing or cache poisoning. Proper DNS diagnostics help you identify and eliminate vulnerabilities.

So now you have understood the importance of diagnosing DNS problems. Next, we will explain some tools that make the diagnosis easier.

5 Tools that Help in Diagnosing DNS Problems

Below are five tools that help you diagnose DNS problems and provide accurate results.

1. Whatsmydns.me

A frequent issue that many have to face is the DNS propagation delay. This often happens when any change is made to the DNS record. Those changes take time to propagate on DNS resolvers around the world.

This is where Whatsmydns.me helps you. Using it, you can check how your DNS records are being resolved at the different locations worldwide.

As an example:

Suppose you have migrated a website to a new server and updated the A records. To confirm whether they have propagated or not, do the following:

a. Visit Whatsmydns.me.

b. Enter the domain name.

c. Choose “A” record.

d. Click the “Search” button.

As a result, the tool will show you how that domain's “A” records are being resolved on the servers worldwide.

2. Google Admin Toolbox Dig

Google’s DIG is a tool that IT professionals mostly use to bring command-line power into a browser. Using it, you can get detailed DNS information without switching to terminal windows. It is helpful in case you:

• Are troubleshooting DNSSEC
• Diagnosing authoritative responses
• Looking for TTL (time to live) value

This tool performs a DNS lookup while using Google’s infrastructure. It provides you with detailed response headers and supports multiple record types, such as:

• A
• AAAA
• CAA
• MX
• NS
• TXT
• CNAME
• SOA, etc.

3. Domain DNS Lookup by Ultahost

The next tool on our list is the DNS Lookup by Ultahost. This tool aggregates all the DNS records related to a domain upon a query. All you need to do is enter the domain and hit the “DNS Request” button.

Upon doing this, the tool will present all the DNS records related to that domain name on your screen. This helps confirm that everything, i.e., site hosting, email services, and subdomains, is being routed correctly.

4. SPF Record Checker by SEOOptimer

SPF (Sender Policy Framework) helps prevent email spam and improve deliverability. An error in the SPF record can disrupt the sending and receiving of emails. Moreover, hackers sometimes try to spoof these records to carry out phishing attacks.

That is where the SPF record checker by SEOOptimer seems to be helpful. Using this tool, you can validate whether your domain's SPF records are correctly configured.

By doing the results analysis, you can detect any possible error or missing SPF record to rectify it promptly and protect your online assets.

5. WHOIS Lookup by GoDaddy

The WhoIs Lookup tool by GoDaddy also indirectly helps diagnose DNS problems. It helps you with issues like a domain not resolving or verifying nameservers. Yet, it does not show all the DNS records, but it does show other necessary information, such as:

• Nameservers assigned to the domain
• Registrar and registrant contact info
• Registration/Expiration dates

Using this information, you can confirm the current NS setup from the registrar (especially useful when you point a domain to an external server). Moreover, you can also check whether the domain is not facing downtime because it has expired.

Conclusion

DNS problems are frustrating for anyone who owns or manages a website or any other online asset. Sometimes, they take down all of the access, making it inaccessible to users.

By diagnosing your DNS from time to time, you can prevent such problems from appearing. And there are many online tools, like the five we discussed in this post, that are out there to help you.

So what are you waiting for? Give them a try and start diagnosing your domain DNS records. You will see how helpful they will be for you with the said task.