DNS Check setup guide

DNS is like an upper layer that ensures users can reach your website, send emails, and interact with your digital services without issues.

A DNS check is just a technical assessment of your DNS records that helps you make sure they are configured correctly. It’s important to know that DNS records are functioning properly and have no security or performance problems.

If you overlook the DNS check, it can create issues. A wrong DNS setup can lead to website downtime, email failures, poor user experience, and the destruction of your setup.

What Is a DNS Check?

A DNS check works as a diagnostic process that you can use to evaluate and verify the DNS records associated with your domain. It helps you inspect each DNS record (A, AAAA, MX, CNAME, TXT, NS, PTR, etc.) so that you know they're:

• Configured Properly

• Accurately resolved

• Consistently propagated across global DNS servers

The whole thing helps you identify any errors or security misconfigurations.

Why Do You Need DNS Checks?

When your DNS setup is all good and properly configured, it directly impacts your website accessibility, email reliability, and security. Without regular DNS checks, you may face a lot of issues like:

Website Unavailability: Incorrect A or CNAME records can prevent users from accessing your site, causing you to lose users.

Email Delivery Failures: Misconfigured MX, SPF, DKIM, or DMARC records can be the reason your emails get rejected or marked as spam.

Security Risks: If you miss or have incorrect TXT records, you can leave your domain vulnerable to spoofing and phishing.

Propagation Delays: Changes you made to DNS settings may not be visible across all regions if TTL settings are mismanaged.

Loss of Trust: Inconsistent or expired DNS configurations can affect SSL certificates and server reputations.

DNS check helps you detect and resolve these issues effortlessly.

How DNS Checks Are Done?

There are two main approaches to do a DNS check:

Use Online DNS Diagnostic Tools

There are plenty of DNS check tools available on the internet. You can use any of them to check your DNS configuration. Add your domain name in these tools and they will give a detailed report about your DNS propagation.

These tools help you check:

• A and AAAA records

• MX records (used for mail routing)

• CNAME and aliasing

• TXT records

• NS (Name Server) records

• SOA (Start of Authority) configuration

• DNS propagation

• DNSSEC (if you enable)

Always use tools that provide you with detailed logs and support international DNS checking. Prefer tools that support both IPv4 and IPv6.

Command-Line Tools If you use terminal-based utilities, these commands can help you get precise and real-time results:

nslookup

To check a domain's IP address: nslookup example.com

To query a specific record: nslookup -type=MX example.com

To view all records: dig example.com ANY

To check reverse DNS: dig -x 192.0.2.1

To quickly retrieve key records:

host -t A example.com

host -t MX example.com

What You Should Check in Your DNS Configuration

When you’re performing a DNS check, focus on verifying the following:

A Record: It helps in mapping domain to an IPv4 address. Make sure it points to the correct web server.

AAAA Record: It helps you map your domain to an IPv6 address.

MX Record: Helps you know where emails should be delivered. Must be configured correctly for proper mail flow.

CNAME Record: Aliases one domain to another. Should not conflict with existing A records.

TXT Records: They’re used for SPF, DKIM, and DMARC email authentication.

NS Record: Helps you specify the authoritative name servers for your domain.

PTR Record: You can use it in reverse DNS lookups. It should match your A record for proper mail server validation.

SOA Record: Enables you to identify the primary authoritative server and handles zone transfers and serial numbers.

TTL (Time to Live): Controls how long your DNS records are cached. Ensure values are appropriate for your update frequency.

DNS Check - Top Things To Keep in Mind

• Always conduct DNS checks after any domain or server changes.

• Monitor TTL values and adjust them during transitions so you can prevent propagation delays.

• Maintain consistency between forward and reverse DNS records.

• Don’t forget to verify that email authentication records (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) are accurate.

• Keep your DNS zone files clean. Remove outdated or unused entries.

• Regularly audit your DNS settings for security gaps.

FAQs

How often should I perform a DNS check? It's recommended to perform DNS checks at least monthly or whenever you make configuration changes to your hosting, email, or domain registrar settings.

Do DNS checks affect live services? No. DNS checks are non-intrusive and read-only. They do not affect traffic or server performance.

Can DNS issues affect SEO? Yes. If your site is down or slow due to DNS issues, it can negatively affect search engine rankings and crawlability.

How do I confirm if my DNS changes have propagated? Use DNS propagation checkers or query global DNS servers using tools like dig or nslookup.

Conclusion

DNS checks are an important part of managing your digital infrastructure. They are there to make sure your domain is reachable, your emails are deliverable, and your users can access your services without interruption.

When you regularly check your DNS records and fix errors early, you improve uptime, reliability, and security.

Whether you’re a system administrator, developer, or website owner, you definitely need to incorporate routine DNS checks into your workflow. This helps you maintain a strong and stable online presence.