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Can we verify the DNS response

6 messages in this thread

list Mike Cavanagh · Wed, 3 Nov 2010 17:21:47 -0700 ·
An entry in the bb-host file like:

 
192.168.10.10     bambam              # dns=fred

 
will perform a DNS query against the server bambam for the hostname:
fred.  The way I understand it is if a response is received, the DNS is
considered good.

 
I would like to know if here are any options to verify the result.  In
my particular case, we want to query against a "Split DNS" server and
confirm the correct IP is being returned in the A record.  So,

 
192.168.10.10     bambam.dom.com                         #
dns=fred.dom.com

71.137.200.10     bambam.dom.com                         #
dns=fred.dom.com

 
The first entry should return:  192.168.10.15

The second entry should return: 71.137.200.15

 
If DNS views are broken, the 2nd entry may return:  192.168.10.15   If
so, I want to get a page so DNS can be fixed.

 
Thanks,

Mike
list Xymon User in Richmond · Wed, 3 Nov 2010 21:18:29 -0400 ·
quoted from Mike Cavanagh
On Wed, November 3, 2010 20:21, Mike Cavanagh wrote:
An entry in the bb-host file like:


192.168.10.10     bambam              # dns=fred


will perform a DNS query against the server bambam for the hostname:
fred.  The way I understand it is if a response is received, the DNS is
considered good.


I would like to know if here are any options to verify the result.  In my
particular case, we want to query against a "Split DNS" server and
confirm the correct IP is being returned in the A record.  So,


192.168.10.10     bambam.dom.com                         #
dns=fred.dom.com

71.137.200.10     bambam.dom.com                         #
dns=fred.dom.com


The first entry should return:  192.168.10.15

The second entry should return: 71.137.200.15


If DNS views are broken, the 2nd entry may return:  192.168.10.15   If
so, I want to get a page so DNS can be fixed.
Don't know how to do what you want the way you want, but you'll need
"testip" on those bb-hosts entries or they're both going to test whatever
the Xymon server returns for bambam.dom.com.

A possible workaround for what you want:  is it possible to insert an A
record into the external zone for a host name that doesn't exist in the
internal zone?  If a test on that failed, you'd know that either the
external DNS server was down or that the internal DNS zone was incorrectly
being used.  You'd probably want a page either way.
list Vernon Everett · Thu, 4 Nov 2010 10:01:00 +0800 ·
Hi Mike

As Richard suggests, I suspect the config you proposed is going to cause
Xymon, and yourself a world of hurt.
Remember, Xymon uses the hostname as the index (for lack of a better word)
Now you have the same host with 2 IP addresses.
Xymon will perform 2 pings, using lookup to resolve IP. bbtest-net is going
to bleat.
I suspect, the IP address from the lookup is the one that will be used as
the DNS server IP.
So both DNS lookups will be to the same IP address.

I would suggest a simple script to do what you need.

Regards
     Vernon
quoted from Mike Cavanagh


On Thu, Nov 4, 2010 at 8:21 AM, Mike Cavanagh <user-aa53cad052d4@xymon.invalid>wrote:
 An entry in the bb-host file like:


192.168.10.10     bambam              # dns=fred


will perform a DNS query against the server bambam for the hostname: fred.
The way I understand it is if a response is received, the DNS is considered
good.


I would like to know if here are any options to verify the result.  In my
particular case, we want to query against a “Split DNS” server and confirm
the correct IP is being returned in the A record.  So,


192.168.10.10     bambam.dom.com                         # dns=
fred.dom.com

71.137.200.10     bambam.dom.com                         # dns=
fred.dom.com
quoted from Xymon User in Richmond


The first entry should return:  192.168.10.15

The second entry should return: 71.137.200.15


If DNS views are broken, the 2nd entry may return:  192.168.10.15   If so,
I want to get a page so DNS can be fixed.


Thanks,

Mike

list Mike Cavanagh · Wed, 3 Nov 2010 21:03:39 -0700 ·
Richand and Vernon.  Thanks for the replies.

 
Richard, I will look into the concept of a "fake" host entry.  It sounds
like a good workaround.  I am not sure what the testip is for but I will
look into it.  For that matter, not sure if I still need the network
option (comes from BB).  I think I can remove it.  Do not seem to see it
in the Xymon docs.

 
The entries I presented earlier were not real.  I wanted to keep it
simple to help understand what I was trying to accomplish.  Here is what
I am running on (items changed to protect the innocent).  It seems to be
running correctly, but Xymon has been running for just 2 days so I am
still learning its ins n outs.

 
BB-Hosts file:

192.168.14.15          bambam.domain.com           # conn network
prtdiag ftp smtp dns=smtp.domain.com

76.x.y.z                  ns1.domain.com                 # noconn
dns=smtp.domain.com

 
Here are the results from Xymon DNS queries:

For bambam.domain.com

            Service dns on bambam.domain.com is OK (up)
            id: 60029
            flags: qr aa rd ra 
            opcode: QUERY
            rcode: NOERROR
            Questions:
                        smtp.domain.com .
A
            Answers:
                        smtp.domain.com .            86400    A
192.168.11.15
            NS records:
                        domain.com      .              86400    NS
ns1.domain.com.
                        domain.com      .              86400    NS
ns1.domain2.com.
            Additional records:
                        ns1.domain.com  .            86400    A
192.168.14.15
                        ns1.domain2.com.             86400    A
192.168.11.15
            Seconds: 0.098

For ns1.domain.com

        Service dns on ns1.domain.com is OK (up)
        id: 2822
        flags: qr aa rd 
        opcode: QUERY
        rcode: NOERROR
        Questions:
                smtp.domain.com .              A
        Answers:
                smtp.domain.com .      86400   A       71.a.b.d
        NS records:
                domain.com      .      86400   NS      ns1.domain2.com.
                domain.com      .      86400   NS      ns1.domain.com.
        Additional records:
                ns1.domain.com  .      86400   A       76.x.y.z
                ns1.domain2.com.       86400   A       71.a.b.c
        Seconds: 0.099
 

Please drop a note if you see something that is just does not seem
correct.

Thanks,
Mike
quoted from Vernon Everett
 
 
From: Vernon Everett [mailto:user-b3f8dacb72c8@xymon.invalid] 
Sent: Wednesday, November 03, 2010 7:01 PM
To: xymon at xymon.com
Subject: Re: [xymon] Can we verify the DNS response

 
Hi Mike

As Richard suggests, I suspect the config you proposed is going to cause
Xymon, and yourself a world of hurt.
Remember, Xymon uses the hostname as the index (for lack of a better
word)
Now you have the same host with 2 IP addresses.
Xymon will perform 2 pings, using lookup to resolve IP. bbtest-net is
going to bleat.
I suspect, the IP address from the lookup is the one that will be used
as the DNS server IP.
So both DNS lookups will be to the same IP address.

I would suggest a simple script to do what you need.

Regards
     Vernon


On Thu, Nov 4, 2010 at 8:21 AM, Mike Cavanagh <user-aa53cad052d4@xymon.invalid>
quoted from Vernon Everett
wrote:

An entry in the bb-host file like:

 
192.168.10.10     bambam              # dns=fred

 
will perform a DNS query against the server bambam for the hostname:
fred.  The way I understand it is if a response is received, the DNS is
considered good.

 
I would like to know if here are any options to verify the result.  In
my particular case, we want to query against a "Split DNS" server and
confirm the correct IP is being returned in the A record.  So,

 
192.168.10.10     bambam.dom.com                         #
dns=fred.dom.com

71.137.200.10     bambam.dom.com                         #
dns=fred.dom.com

 
The first entry should return:  192.168.10.15

The second entry should return: 71.137.200.15

 
If DNS views are broken, the 2nd entry may return:  192.168.10.15   If
so, I want to get a page so DNS can be fixed.

 
Thanks,

Mike
list Xymon User in Richmond · Thu, 4 Nov 2010 08:49:33 -0400 ·
I'm not a Richard, although I sometimes play its diminutive on the list.

The "testip" tag tells Xymon to use the IP on the bb-hosts entry. 
Otherwise it uses DNS to resolve the name, falling back on the ip only if
the name fails to resolve.  But Everett pointed out more important
consequences of the server name duplication that I had overlooked.

IIRC, the "network" tag was essentially the BB equivalent of "conn" (or
perhaps a synonym).  I don't recall it being in Hobbit/Xymon at all.

Regards,
j.
quoted from Mike Cavanagh

On Thu, November 4, 2010 00:03, Mike Cavanagh wrote:
Richand and Vernon.  Thanks for the replies.


Richard, I will look into the concept of a "fake" host entry.  It sounds
like a good workaround.  I am not sure what the testip is for but I will
look into it.  For that matter, not sure if I still need the network
option (comes from BB).  I think I can remove it.  Do not seem to see it
in the Xymon docs.


The entries I presented earlier were not real.  I wanted to keep it
simple to help understand what I was trying to accomplish.  Here is what
I am running on (items changed to protect the innocent).  It seems to be
running correctly, but Xymon has been running for just 2 days so I am
still learning its ins n outs.


BB-Hosts file:

192.168.14.15          bambam.domain.com           # conn network
prtdiag ftp smtp dns=smtp.domain.com

76.x.y.z                  ns1.domain.com                 # noconn
dns=smtp.domain.com


Here are the results from Xymon DNS queries:

For bambam.domain.com

            Service dns on bambam.domain.com is OK (up)
            id: 60029
            flags: qr aa rd ra
            opcode: QUERY
            rcode: NOERROR
            Questions:
                        smtp.domain.com .
A
            Answers:
                        smtp.domain.com .            86400    A
192.168.11.15
            NS records:
                        domain.com      .              86400    NS
ns1.domain.com.
                        domain.com      .              86400    NS
ns1.domain2.com.
            Additional records:
                        ns1.domain.com  .            86400    A
192.168.14.15
                        ns1.domain2.com.             86400    A
192.168.11.15
            Seconds: 0.098

For ns1.domain.com

        Service dns on ns1.domain.com is OK (up)
        id: 2822
        flags: qr aa rd
        opcode: QUERY
        rcode: NOERROR
        Questions:
                smtp.domain.com .              A
        Answers:
                smtp.domain.com .      86400   A       71.a.b.d
        NS records:
                domain.com      .      86400   NS      ns1.domain2.com.
                domain.com      .      86400   NS      ns1.domain.com.
        Additional records:
                ns1.domain.com  .      86400   A       76.x.y.z
                ns1.domain2.com.       86400   A       71.a.b.c
        Seconds: 0.099


Please drop a note if you see something that is just does not seem
correct.

Thanks,
Mike


From: Vernon Everett [mailto:user-b3f8dacb72c8@xymon.invalid]
Sent: Wednesday, November 03, 2010 7:01 PM
To: xymon at xymon.com
Subject: Re: [xymon] Can we verify the DNS response


Hi Mike

As Richard suggests, I suspect the config you proposed is going to cause
Xymon, and yourself a world of hurt.
Remember, Xymon uses the hostname as the index (for lack of a better
word)
Now you have the same host with 2 IP addresses.
Xymon will perform 2 pings, using lookup to resolve IP. bbtest-net is
going to bleat.
I suspect, the IP address from the lookup is the one that will be used
as the DNS server IP.
So both DNS lookups will be to the same IP address.

I would suggest a simple script to do what you need.

Regards
     Vernon


On Thu, Nov 4, 2010 at 8:21 AM, Mike Cavanagh <user-aa53cad052d4@xymon.invalid>
wrote:

An entry in the bb-host file like:


192.168.10.10     bambam              # dns=fred


will perform a DNS query against the server bambam for the hostname:
fred.  The way I understand it is if a response is received, the DNS is
considered good.


I would like to know if here are any options to verify the result.  In
my particular case, we want to query against a "Split DNS" server and
confirm the correct IP is being returned in the A record.  So,


192.168.10.10     bambam.dom.com                         #
dns=fred.dom.com

71.137.200.10     bambam.dom.com                         #
dns=fred.dom.com


The first entry should return:  192.168.10.15

The second entry should return: 71.137.200.15


If DNS views are broken, the 2nd entry may return:  192.168.10.15   If
so, I want to get a page so DNS can be fixed.


Thanks,

Mike

list Mike Cavanagh · Thu, 4 Nov 2010 09:35:34 -0700 ·
Thanks J.  I saw Richard in Vernon's' email and just ran with it.  Sorry
about that.

Good to know about the testip.  I can see uses for it.
I thought the network was like conn, but it's been years and I could not
remember.

Mike


Michael D. Cavanagh
Phone [916] 853-9658


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quoted from Xymon User in Richmond


-----Original Message-----
From: Xymon User in Richmond [mailto:user-24d6f8323faa@xymon.invalid] 
Sent: Thursday, November 04, 2010 5:50 AM
To: xymon at xymon.com
Subject: RE: [xymon] Can we verify the DNS response

I'm not a Richard, although I sometimes play its diminutive on the list.

The "testip" tag tells Xymon to use the IP on the bb-hosts entry. 
Otherwise it uses DNS to resolve the name, falling back on the ip only
if
the name fails to resolve.  But Everett pointed out more important
consequences of the server name duplication that I had overlooked.

IIRC, the "network" tag was essentially the BB equivalent of "conn" (or
perhaps a synonym).  I don't recall it being in Hobbit/Xymon at all.

Regards,
j.

On Thu, November 4, 2010 00:03, Mike Cavanagh wrote:
Richand and Vernon.  Thanks for the replies.


Richard, I will look into the concept of a "fake" host entry.  It
sounds
like a good workaround.  I am not sure what the testip is for but I
will
look into it.  For that matter, not sure if I still need the network
option (comes from BB).  I think I can remove it.  Do not seem to see
it
in the Xymon docs.


The entries I presented earlier were not real.  I wanted to keep it
simple to help understand what I was trying to accomplish.  Here is
what
I am running on (items changed to protect the innocent).  It seems to
be
running correctly, but Xymon has been running for just 2 days so I am
still learning its ins n outs.


BB-Hosts file:

192.168.14.15          bambam.domain.com           # conn network
prtdiag ftp smtp dns=smtp.domain.com

76.x.y.z                  ns1.domain.com                 # noconn
dns=smtp.domain.com


Here are the results from Xymon DNS queries:

For bambam.domain.com

            Service dns on bambam.domain.com is OK (up)
            id: 60029
            flags: qr aa rd ra
            opcode: QUERY
            rcode: NOERROR
            Questions:
                        smtp.domain.com .
A
            Answers:
                        smtp.domain.com .            86400    A
192.168.11.15
            NS records:
                        domain.com      .              86400    NS
ns1.domain.com.
                        domain.com      .              86400    NS
ns1.domain2.com.
            Additional records:
                        ns1.domain.com  .            86400    A
192.168.14.15
                        ns1.domain2.com.             86400    A
192.168.11.15
            Seconds: 0.098

For ns1.domain.com

        Service dns on ns1.domain.com is OK (up)
        id: 2822
        flags: qr aa rd
        opcode: QUERY
        rcode: NOERROR
        Questions:
                smtp.domain.com .              A
        Answers:
                smtp.domain.com .      86400   A       71.a.b.d
        NS records:
                domain.com      .      86400   NS
ns1.domain2.com.
                domain.com      .      86400   NS      ns1.domain.com.
        Additional records:
                ns1.domain.com  .      86400   A       76.x.y.z
                ns1.domain2.com.       86400   A       71.a.b.c
        Seconds: 0.099


Please drop a note if you see something that is just does not seem
correct.

Thanks,
Mike


From: Vernon Everett [mailto:user-b3f8dacb72c8@xymon.invalid]
Sent: Wednesday, November 03, 2010 7:01 PM
To: xymon at xymon.com
Subject: Re: [xymon] Can we verify the DNS response


Hi Mike

As Richard suggests, I suspect the config you proposed is going to
cause
Xymon, and yourself a world of hurt.
Remember, Xymon uses the hostname as the index (for lack of a better
word)
Now you have the same host with 2 IP addresses.
Xymon will perform 2 pings, using lookup to resolve IP. bbtest-net is
going to bleat.
I suspect, the IP address from the lookup is the one that will be used
as the DNS server IP.
So both DNS lookups will be to the same IP address.

I would suggest a simple script to do what you need.

Regards
     Vernon


On Thu, Nov 4, 2010 at 8:21 AM, Mike Cavanagh
<user-aa53cad052d4@xymon.invalid>
wrote:

An entry in the bb-host file like:


192.168.10.10     bambam              # dns=fred


will perform a DNS query against the server bambam for the hostname:
fred.  The way I understand it is if a response is received, the DNS
is
considered good.


I would like to know if here are any options to verify the result.  In
my particular case, we want to query against a "Split DNS" server and
confirm the correct IP is being returned in the A record.  So,


192.168.10.10     bambam.dom.com                         #
dns=fred.dom.com

71.137.200.10     bambam.dom.com                         #
dns=fred.dom.com


The first entry should return:  192.168.10.15

The second entry should return: 71.137.200.15


If DNS views are broken, the 2nd entry may return:  192.168.10.15   If
so, I want to get a page so DNS can be fixed.


Thanks,

Mike