host command in Linux with examples

Last Updated : 21 May, 2019

host command in Linux system is used for DNS (Domain Name System) lookup operations. In simple words, this command is used to find the IP address of a particular domain name or if you want to find out the domain name of a particular IP address the host command becomes handy. You can also find more specific details of a domain by specifying the corresponding option along with the domain name. Syntax:

host [-aCdlriTWV] [-c class] [-N ndots] [-t type] [-W time]
     [-R number] [-m flag] hostname [server]

host command without any option: It will print the general syntax of the command along with the various options that can be used with the host command as well as gives a brief description about each option. Example:

Different options with the host command:

host domain_name: This will print the IP address details of the specified domain. Example:
```
host geeksforgeeks.org
```
host IP_Address: This will display the domain details of the specified IP Address. Example:
```
host 52.25.109.230
```
-a or -v: It used to specify the query type or enables the verbose output. Example:
```
host -a geeksforgeeks.org 
```
-t : It is used to specify the type of query. Example 1:
```
host -t ns geeksforgeeks.org  
```
Example 2: To print SOA record
```
host -t SOA geeksforgeeks.org  
```
Example 3: To print txt record
```
host -t txt geeksforgeeks.org  
```
-C : In order to compare the SOA records on authoritative nameservers. Example:
```
host -C geeksforgeeks.org 
```
-R : In order to specify the number of retries you can do in case one try fails. If anyone try succeeds then the command stops. Example:
```
host -R 3 geeksforgeeks.org 
```
-l :In order to list all hosts in a domain.For this command to work you need to be either an admin or a node server. Example:
```
host -l geeksforgeeks.org 
```

S

sethusubramanian

Improve

Article Tags :

Linux-Unix

Similar Reads

grpck command in Linux with Examples

grpck command in Linux System verifies the integrity of the groups' information. It checks that all entries in /etc/group and "/etc/gshadow" have the proper format and contain valid data. The user is prompted to delete entries that are incorrectly formatted or which have uncorrectable errors. Syntax

grpconv command in Linux with examples

The grpconv command in Linux is used to convert groups to shadow groups. Shadow groups offer enhanced security by moving group passwords into the shadow group file (/etc/gshadow), which is not readable by normal users, thus protecting sensitive information. The grpconv command works by creating or u

gs command in Linux with Examples

gs command invokes Ghostscript, which is an interpreter of Adobe Systems PostScript and Portable Document Format(PDF) languages. After executing Ghostscript it reads further input from the standard input stream until it encounters 'quit' command. Syntax: gs [ options ] [ files ] ... Options: Below a

gunzip Command in Linux with Examples

The gunzip command in Linux is a popular tool for decompressing files compressed with gzip. It simplifies file unzipping, enhances file management, and optimizes disk space in Linux environments.In this blog post, we will explore how gunzip works, providing practical examples for you to try. Whether

halt command in Linux with examples

This command in Linux is used to instruct the hardware to stop all the CPU functions. Basically, it reboots or stops the system. If the system is in runlevel 0 or 6 or using the command with --force option, it results in rebooting of the system otherwise it results in shutdown. Syntax: halt [OPTION]

hash command in Linux with examples

The `hash` is a command in Linux that helps in managing the hash table. It facilitates with mapping the names of executable files to their locations on disk. It helps in speeds uping the commands execution by remembering paths of frequently used commands. It uses the `hash` to view hashed commands (

hdparm command in Linux with Examples

"hdparm" (i.e., hard disk parameter) is one of the command line programs for Linux that is used to handle disk devices and hard disks. With the help of this command, you can get statistics about the hard disk, alter writing intervals, acoustic management, and DMA settings. It can also set parameters

Head Command in Linux With Examples

Need to quickly view the beginning of a file in Linux? The head command is your best option. This essential command-line tool enables users, developers, and system administrators to preview the start of log files, configuration files, CSV datasets, and other text documents in seconds.The head comman

help Command in Linux with examples

If youâ€™re new to the Linux operating system and struggling with command-line utilities, the help command is one of the first tools you should learn. As its name suggests, the 'help' command provides detailed information about built-in shell commands, making it an essential resource for beginners and

hexdump command in Linux with examples

The 'hexdump' command in Linux is a versatile utility used to display file content or data from standard input in a human-readable format. It is invaluable for programmers and system administrators for debugging binary data, analyzing file structures, and verifying data integrity. Here we will get a