DNS

Core Idea

DNS maps human-readable names to records, including IP addresses, mail exchangers, aliases, and other service metadata.

Commands To Try

host lf2607.kolamayermakers.org
dig lf2607.kolamayermakers.org
dig lf2607.kolamayermakers.org A
dig lf2607.kolamayermakers.org AAAA
dig example.org MX

Use host for short answers. Use dig when you want to see record types, TTLs, answer sections, and which resolver answered.

Common Record Types

Type	Meaning
`A`	Name to IPv4 address.
`AAAA`	Name to IPv6 address.
`CNAME`	Alias from one name to another name.
`MX`	Mail exchanger records for a domain.
`TXT`	Text metadata, often verification, SPF, DKIM, or DMARC data.
`NS`	Authoritative name servers for a zone.

How DNS Fits The Request

name -> DNS answer -> IP address -> TCP connection -> protocol request

DNS success only proves that a name resolved. It does not prove that the server process is alive or that HTTP, SSH, or SMTP will work.

Common Failures

NXDOMAIN: the name does not exist in DNS.
No A record but an AAAA record exists: the service may be IPv6-only.
DNS returns an address, but curl fails: move to port, protocol, or application debugging.
Different answers from different networks: DNS caches and split-horizon setups can differ.

TTL

TTL means time to live. It tells resolvers how long they may cache an answer. Recent DNS changes may not appear everywhere immediately.

Proof Check

Run dig lf2607.kolamayermakers.org. Identify the ANSWER SECTION, record type, and returned address or name.

Docs Pointers

Run man host and man dig.
Read Cloudflare: What is DNS?.
Read Cloudflare: DNS record types.
Read IP Networking for the broader network debugging model.