Net::DNS(3pm) User Contributed Perl Documentation Net::DNS(3pm)
NAME
Net::DNS - Perl Interface to the Domain Name System
SYNOPSIS
use Net::DNS;
my $resolver = Net::DNS::Resolver->new(...);
my $response = $resolver->send(...);
DESCRIPTION
Net::DNS is a collection of Perl modules that act as a Domain Name
System (DNS) resolver. It allows the programmer to perform DNS queries
that are beyond the capabilities of "gethostbyname" and "gethostbyaddr".
The programmer should be familiar with the structure of a DNS packet and
the zone file presentation format described in RFC1035.
Resolver Objects
A resolver object is an instance of the Net::DNS::Resolver class. A
program may have multiple resolver objects, each maintaining its own
state information such as the nameservers to be queried, whether
recursion is desired, etc.
Packet Objects
Net::DNS::Resolver queries return Net::DNS::Packet objects. A packet
object has five sections:
• header, represented by a Net::DNS::Header object
• question, a list of no more than one Net::DNS::Question object
• answer, a list of Net::DNS::RR objects
• authority, a list of Net::DNS::RR objects
• additional, a list of Net::DNS::RR objects
Update Objects
Net::DNS::Update is a subclass of Net::DNS::Packet useful for creating
dynamic update requests.
Header Object
The Net::DNS::Header object mediates access to the header data which
resides within the corresponding Net::DNS::Packet.
Question Object
The Net::DNS::Question object represents the content of the question
section of the DNS packet.
RR Objects
Net::DNS::RR is the base class for DNS resource record (RR) objects in
the answer, authority, and additional sections of a DNS packet.
Do not assume that RR objects will be of the type requested. The type
of an RR object must be checked before calling any methods.
METHODS
Net::DNS exports methods and auxiliary functions to support DNS updates,
zone serial number management, and simple DNS queries.
version
use Net::DNS;
print Net::DNS->version, "\n";
Returns the version of Net::DNS.
rr
# Use a default resolver -- can not get an error string this way.
use Net::DNS;
my @rr = rr("example.com");
my @rr = rr("example.com", "AAAA");
my @rr = rr("example.com", "AAAA", "IN");
# Use your own resolver object.
my $res = Net::DNS::Resolver->new;
my @rr = rr($res, "example.com" ... );
my ($ptr) = rr("2001:DB8::dead:beef");
The rr() method provides simple RR lookup for scenarios where the full
flexibility of Net::DNS is not required.
Returns a list of Net::DNS::RR objects for the specified name or an
empty list if the query failed or no record was found.
See "EXAMPLES" for more complete examples.
mx
# Use a default resolver -- can not get an error string this way.
use Net::DNS;
my @mx = mx("example.com");
# Use your own resolver object.
my $res = Net::DNS::Resolver->new;
my @mx = mx($res, "example.com");
Returns a list of Net::DNS::RR::MX objects representing the MX records
for the specified name. The list will be sorted by preference. Returns
an empty list if the query failed or no MX record was found.
This method does not look up address records; it resolves MX only.
Dynamic DNS Update Support
The Net::DNS module provides auxiliary functions which support dynamic
DNS update requests.
$update = Net::DNS::Update->new( 'example.com' );
$update->push( prereq => nxrrset('example.com. AAAA') );
$update->push( update => rr_add('example.com. 86400 AAAA 2001::DB8::F00') );
yxrrset
Use this method to add an "RRset exists" prerequisite to a dynamic
update packet. There are two forms, value-independent and value-
dependent:
# RRset exists (value-independent)
$update->push( pre => yxrrset("host.example.com AAAA") );
Meaning: At least one RR with the specified name and type must exist.
# RRset exists (value-dependent)
$update->push( pre => yxrrset("host.example.com AAAA 2001:DB8::1") );
Meaning: At least one RR with the specified name and type must exist
and must have matching data.
Returns a Net::DNS::RR object or "undef" if the object could not be
created.
nxrrset
Use this method to add an "RRset does not exist" prerequisite to a
dynamic update packet.
$update->push( pre => nxrrset("host.example.com AAAA") );
Meaning: No RRs with the specified name and type can exist.
Returns a Net::DNS::RR object or "undef" if the object could not be
created.
yxdomain
Use this method to add a "name is in use" prerequisite to a dynamic
update packet.
$update->push( pre => yxdomain("host.example.com") );
Meaning: At least one RR with the specified name must exist.
Returns a Net::DNS::RR object or "undef" if the object could not be
created.
nxdomain
Use this method to add a "name is not in use" prerequisite to a dynamic
update packet.
$update->push( pre => nxdomain("host.example.com") );
Meaning: No RR with the specified name can exist.
Returns a Net::DNS::RR object or "undef" if the object could not be
created.
rr_add
Use this method to add RRs to a zone.
$update->push( update => rr_add("host.example.com AAAA 2001:DB8::c001:a1e") );
Meaning: Add this RR to the zone.
RR objects created by this method should be added to the "update"
section of a dynamic update packet. The TTL defaults to 86400 seconds
(24 hours) if not specified.
Returns a Net::DNS::RR object or "undef" if the object could not be
created.
rr_del
Use this method to delete RRs from a zone. There are three forms:
delete all RRsets, delete an RRset, and delete a specific RR.
# Delete all RRsets.
$update->push( update => rr_del("host.example.com") );
Meaning: Delete all RRs having the specified name.
# Delete an RRset.
$update->push( update => rr_del("host.example.com AAAA") );
Meaning: Delete all RRs having the specified name and type.
# Delete a specific RR.
$update->push( update => rr_del("host.example.com AAAA 2001:DB8::dead:beef") );
Meaning: Delete the RR which matches the specified argument.
RR objects created by this method should be added to the "update"
section of a dynamic update packet.
Returns a Net::DNS::RR object or "undef" if the object could not be
created.
Zone Serial Number Management
The Net::DNS module provides auxiliary functions which support policy-
driven zone serial numbering regimes.
$soa->serial(SEQUENTIAL);
$soa->serial(YYYMMDDxx);
SEQUENTIAL
$successor = $soa->serial( SEQUENTIAL );
The existing serial number is incremented modulo 2**32.
UNIXTIME
$successor = $soa->serial( UNIXTIME );
The Unix time scale will be used as the basis for zone serial numbering.
The serial number will be incremented if the time elapsed since the
previous update is less than one second.
YYYYMMDDxx
$successor = $soa->serial( YYYYMMDDxx );
The 32 bit value returned by the auxiliary YYYYMMDDxx() function will be
used as the base for the date-coded zone serial number. Serial number
increments must be limited to 100 per day for the date information to
remain useful.
Sorting of RR arrays
rrsort() provides functionality to help you sort RR arrays. In most
cases this will give you the result that you expect, but you can specify
your own sorting method by using the
"Net::DNS::RR::FOO->set_rrsort_func()" class method. See Net::DNS::RR
for details.
rrsort
use Net::DNS;
my @sorted = rrsort( $rrtype, $attribute, @rr_array );
rrsort() selects all RRs from the input array that are of the type
defined by the first argument. Those RRs are sorted based on the
attribute that is specified as second argument.
There are a number of RRs for which the sorting function is defined in
the code.
For instance:
my @prioritysorted = rrsort( "SRV", "priority", @rr_array );
returns the SRV records sorted from lowest to highest priority and for
equal priorities from highest to lowest weight.
If the function does not exist then a numerical sort on the attribute
value is performed.
my @portsorted = rrsort( "SRV", "port", @rr_array );
If the attribute is not defined then either the default_sort() function
or "canonical sorting" (as defined by DNSSEC) will be used.
rrsort() returns a sorted array containing only elements of the
specified RR type. Any other RR types are silently discarded.
rrsort() returns an empty list when arguments are incorrect.
EXAMPLES
The following brief examples illustrate some of the features of
Net::DNS. The documentation for individual modules and the demo scripts
included with the distribution provide more extensive examples.
See Net::DNS::Update for an example of performing dynamic updates.
Look up host addresses.
use Net::DNS;
my $res = Net::DNS::Resolver->new;
my $reply = $res->search( "www.example.com", "AAAA" );
die "query failed: ", $res->errorstring unless $reply;
foreach my $rr ( $reply->answer ) {
print $rr->address, "\n" if $rr->can("address");
}
Find the nameservers for a domain.
use Net::DNS;
my $res = Net::DNS::Resolver->new;
my $reply = $res->query( "example.com", "NS");
die "query failed: ", $res->errorstring unless $reply;
foreach $rr ( grep {$_->type eq "NS"} $reply->answer ) {
print $rr->nsdname, "\n";
}
Find the MX records for a domain.
use Net::DNS;
my $name = "example.com";
my $res = Net::DNS::Resolver->new;
my @mx = mx( $res, $name );
foreach $rr (@mx) {
print $rr->preference, "\t", $rr->exchange, "\n";
}
Print domain SOA record in zone file format.
use Net::DNS;
my $res = Net::DNS::Resolver->new;
my $reply = $res->query( "example.com", "SOA" );
die "query failed: ", $res->errorstring unless $reply;
foreach my $rr ( $reply->answer ) {
$rr->print;
}
Perform a zone transfer and print all the records.
use Net::DNS;
my $res = Net::DNS::Resolver->new(
nameservers => ["a.iana-servers.net", "b.iana-servers.net"],
tcp_timeout => 20
);
my @zone = $res->axfr("example.com");
warn $res->errorstring if $res->errorstring;
foreach $rr (@zone) {
$rr->print;
}
Perform a background query and print the reply.
use Net::DNS;
my $res = Net::DNS::Resolver->new;
$res->udp_timeout(10);
$res->tcp_timeout(20);
my $socket = $res->bgsend( "www.example.com", "AAAA" );
while ( $res->bgbusy($socket) ) {
# do some work here whilst awaiting the response
# ...and some more here
}
my $packet = $res->bgread($socket);
die "query failed: ", $res->errorstring unless $packet;
$packet->print;
BUGS
Net::DNS is slow.
For other items to be fixed, or if you discover a bug in this
distribution please use the CPAN bug reporting system.
COPYRIGHT
Copyright (c)1997-2000 Michael Fuhr.
Portions Copyright (c)2002,2003 Chris Reinhardt.
Portions Copyright (c)2005 Olaf Kolkman (RIPE NCC)
Portions Copyright (c)2006 Olaf Kolkman (NLnet Labs)
Portions Copyright (c)2014 Dick Franks
All rights reserved.
LICENSE
Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this software and its
documentation for any purpose and without fee is hereby granted,
provided that the original copyright notices appear in all copies and
that both copyright notice and this permission notice appear in
supporting documentation, and that the name of the author not be used in
advertising or publicity pertaining to distribution of the software
without specific prior written permission.
THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS
OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF
MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT.
IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY
CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT,
TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE
SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
AUTHOR INFORMATION
Net::DNS is maintained at NLnet Labs (www.nlnetlabs.nl) by Willem Toorop
and Dick Franks.
Between 2005 and 2012 Net::DNS was maintained by Olaf Kolkman.
Between 2002 and 2004 Net::DNS was maintained by Chris Reinhardt.
Net::DNS was created in 1997 by Michael Fuhr.
SEE ALSO
perl Net::DNS::Resolver Net::DNS::Question Net::DNS::RR Net::DNS::Packet
Net::DNS::Update RFC1035 <https://iana.org/go/rfc1035>
perl v5.40.1 2025-03-01 Net::DNS(3pm)
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