What Linux command line tool can I use to determine the version and name of a remote DNS?

Question

Bind offers you the ability to change the version, name, and hostname as follow:

options {
        server-id none;
        hostname none;
        version "Domain Name Server";
};

What I'm wondering is: how can I check that information from my Linux command line?

Answer 1

I think you're looking for dig. Specify id.server, hostname.bind, version.bind as the domain name, TXT as rrtype, and CHAOS (or CH) as the class. For example, to query Level3's DNS:

$ dig @4.2.2.2 hostname.bind chaos txt

; <<>> DiG 9.13.2 <<>> @4.2.2.2 hostname.bind chaos txt
; (1 server found)
;; global options: +cmd
;; Got answer:
;; ->>HEADER<<- opcode: QUERY, status: NOERROR, id: 49354
;; flags: qr rd ra; QUERY: 1, ANSWER: 1, AUTHORITY: 0, ADDITIONAL: 1

;; OPT PSEUDOSECTION:
; EDNS: version: 0, flags:; udp: 8192
;; QUESTION SECTION:
;hostname.bind.         CH  TXT

;; ANSWER SECTION:
hostname.bind.      1   CH  TXT "pubntp2.frf1.Level3.net"

;; Query time: 194 msec
;; SERVER: 4.2.2.2#53(4.2.2.2)
;; WHEN: Mon Aug 20 09:27:21 EEST 2018
;; MSG SIZE  rcvd: 78