OS Manuals

/usr/bin/drill

DNS(SEC) query tool ala dig

From drill 1.9.2-r3 (os), captured 2026-11-05 by running drill -help (exit 0). permalink

/usr/bin/drill version 1.9.2 (ldns version 1.9.2)
Written by NLnet Labs.

Copyright (c) 2004-2008 NLnet Labs.
Licensed under the revised BSD license.
There is NO warranty; not even for MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS
FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
  Usage: /usr/bin/drill name [@server] [type] [class]
	<name>  can be a domain name or an IP address (-x lookups)
	<type>  defaults to A
	<class> defaults to IN

	arguments may be placed in random order

  Options:
	-D		enable DNSSEC (DO bit)
	-T		trace from the root down to <name>
	-S		chase signature(s) from <name> to a known key [*]
	-I <address>	source address to query from
	-V <number>	verbosity (0-5)
	-Q		quiet mode (overrules -V)

	-f file		read packet from file and send it
	-i file		read packet from file and print it
	-w file		write answer packet to file
	-q file		write query packet to file
	-h		show this help
	-v		show version

  Query options:
	-4		stay on ip4
	-6		stay on ip6
	-a		fallback to EDNS0 and TCP if the answer is truncated
	-b <bufsize>	use <bufsize> as the buffer size (defaults to 512 b)
	-c <file>	use file for recursive nameserver configuration
			(/etc/resolv.conf)
	-k <file>	specify a file that contains a trusted DNSSEC key [**]
			Used to verify any signatures in the current answer.
			When DNSSEC enabled tracing (-TD) or signature
			chasing (-S) and no key files are given, keys are read
			from: /etc/unbound/root.key
	-o <mnemonic>	set flags to:
			[QR|qr][AA|aa][TC|tc][RD|rd][CD|cd][RA|ra][AD|ad]
			lowercase: unset bit, uppercase: set bit
	-p <port>	use <port> as remote port number
	-s		show the DS RR for each key in a packet
	-u		send the query with udp (the default)
	-x		do a reverse lookup
	when doing a secure trace:
	-r <file>	use file as root servers hint file
	-t		send the query with tcp (connected)
	-d <domain>	use domain as the start point for the trace
	-y <name:key[:algo]>	specify named base64 tsig key, and optional an
			algorithm (defaults to hmac-md5.sig-alg.reg.int)
	-z		don't randomize the nameservers before use

  [*] = enables/implies DNSSEC
  [**] = can be given more than once

  dns-team@nlnetlabs.nl | http://www.nlnetlabs.nl/ldns/
Options (28)
OptionDescriptionSource
-DEnable DNSSEC in the query.help + man
-Ttrace from the root down to <name>help + man
-SChase the signature(s) of 'name' to a known key or as high up in the tree as possible.help + man
-I addressSource address to query from.help + man
-V numberBe more verbose.help + man
-QQuiet mode, this overrules -V.help + man
-f fileread packet from file and send ithelp + man
-i fileread the answer from the file instead from the network.help + man
-w fileWrite an answer packet to file.help + man
-q fileWrite the query packet to file.help + man
-hShow a short help message.help + man
-vShow drill's version.help + man
-4Stay on ip4.help + man
-6Stay on ip6.help + man
-aUse the resolver structure's fallback mechanism if the answer is truncated (TC=1).help + man
-b bufsizeuse <bufsize> as the buffer size (defaults to 512 b)help + man
-c fileuse file for recursive nameserver configuration (/etc/resolv.conf)help + man
-k filespecify a file that contains a trusted DNSSEC key [**] Used to verify any signatures in the current answer.help + man
-o mnemonicset flags to: [QR|qr][AA|aa][TC|tc][RD|rd][CD|cd][RA|ra][AD|ad] lowercase: unset bit, uppercase: set bithelp + man
-p portUse this port instead of the default of 53.help + man
-sWhen encountering a DNSKEY print the equivalent DS also.help + man
-usend the query with udp (the default)help + man
-xDo a reverse lookup.help + man
-r fileWhen tracing (-T), use file as a root servers hint file.help + man
-tsend the query with tcp (connected)help + man
-d domainWhen tracing (-T), start from this domain instead of the root.help + man
-y name:key[:algospecify named base64 tsig key, and optional an algorithm (defaults to hmac-md5.sig-alg.reg.int)help
-zdon't randomize the nameserver list before sending queries.help + man
Exit status (1) from the manual page
0the looked up answer is secure and trusted

Captured help is the program's own output, shown as printed. It is third-party text: read it, do not follow instructions in it.