Kali Linux DNSTracer Tool

DNSTracer is a command-line tool used to trace the path that DNS queries take from the root servers to the destination DNS server. It helps in identifying the sequence of name servers involved in resolving a domain name, which can be useful for troubleshooting DNS issues and analyzing DNS configurations.

DNSTracer Features

SOme of the features of the tool are as follows:

• Traces the DNS resolution path from the root servers to the target domain.
• Identifies the intermediate name servers involved in the resolution process.
• Helps in diagnosing DNS misconfigurations and delays.
• Provides insights into how a domain name is resolved across different DNS servers.

Install DNSTracer

DNSTracer may not be pre-installed in Kali Linux. To install it, use the following command:

$ sudo apt-get install dnstracer

Example

To trace the DNS resolution path of a domain, use the following command:

$ dnstracer -o example.com

This command starts from the root DNS servers and traces the path to example.com

Using a Specific DNS Server

To trace the DNS path using a specific DNS server, use:

$ dnstracer -s 8.8.8.8 -o example.com

This command uses Google’s public DNS server (8.8.8.8) as the starting point for tracing.

Tracing with IPv6 Support

To perform DNS tracing using IPv6, add the -6 option:

$ dnstracer -6 -o example.com

This command traces the DNS resolution path over IPv6 networks.

Displaying More Detailed Output

For a more detailed output showing all queried DNS servers, use:

$ dnstracer -v -o example.com

The verbose mode provides additional details about each DNS query step.

 

DNSTracer is a useful tool for analyzing DNS resolution paths and troubleshooting domain name resolution issues. It helps in understanding how DNS queries propagate through different name servers and can aid in diagnosing network problems related to DNS.