Zonemaster-CLI is the command-line interface to the Zonemaster DNS testing framework. It lets administrators, registries, hosting providers and domain owners run systematic checks against a domain and inspect problems in its DNS configuration without using the web interface.
The utility relies on Zonemaster-Engine for the actual test framework and presents the results as tests are performed. Rather than simply confirming whether a name resolves, Zonemaster evaluates a broader set of delegation, nameserver and zone behaviours and exposes the Engine’s diagnostic results through a script-friendly interface. Results are emitted progressively, so administrators can see findings as individual test cases complete rather than waiting for a final report.
This is free and open source software.
Key Features
- Runs the Zonemaster test suite directly from the command line against a specified domain.
- Reports findings using severity levels including critical, error, warning, notice, informational and debugging output.
- Can include the originating test case with each reported message to make investigation easier.
- Offers plain-text output as well as raw and JSON representations for further processing.
- Lets users raise or lower the reporting threshold so routine output can be suppressed while important findings remain visible.
- Supports IPv6 testing and can disable IPv6 checks where the host or network lacks suitable connectivity.
- Provides translated diagnostic messages in a selection of languages through locale controls.
- Includes comprehensive command-line help and manual-page documentation for more detailed test and reporting options.
Website: github.com/zonemaster/zonemaster-cli
Support:
Developer: The Swedish Internet Foundation and AFNIC
License: BSD 2-Clause “Simplified” License
Zonemaster-CLI is written in Perl. Learn Perl with our recommended free books and free tutorials.
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| dnsi | Tool to investigate the DNS |
| Digger | Modern DNS lookup tool with a graphical interface |
| dnst | Toolset to assist DNS operators with zone and nameserver maintenance |
| dnspyre | Command-line DNS benchmark tool |
Read our verdict in the software roundup.
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