Domain Detective

DnsClientX DNS Workspace

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Use DomainDetective's DNS Lookup page as a DnsClientX-oriented DNS workspace.

DNS Lane

Overview

The /tools/dns-lookup/ page is the DnsClientX-oriented DNS workspace in the DomainDetective web edition.

It keeps the browser experience simple:

  • Run the standard DomainDetective DNS inventory in the browser
  • Focus the answer view on the record types you care about
  • Choose the browser-safe DoH resolver used for the live query
  • Jump between common Starter, Web, Mail, and Zone presets
  • Keep a separate local-only host target like _dmarc, _mta-sts, or default._domainkey
  • Show the raw records that came back for that focused view
  • Copy the focused result set as JSON or zone-style text
  • Point you to the direct DnsClientX workflows for PowerShell and C#

That gives you one DNS entry point instead of separate overlapping tools.

What The Browser Workspace Does

The browser version of DNS Lookup runs the DomainDetective DNS inventory, lets you choose the browser-safe resolver for the live query, and then narrows the visible result set to the record types you ask for in the optional focus box.

Examples:

  • A, AAAA
  • MX, TXT
  • NS, SOA, CAA

Current browser resolver choices:

  • Google DNS
  • Cloudflare DNS

This is intentionally a focused workspace, not a full custom DNS client UI. It is meant to help you inspect the DNS surface quickly, then step into local DnsClientX usage when you want deeper control.

The optional host field is local-workflow oriented. It does not replace the browser inventory subject. Instead, it retargets the copyable DnsClientX commands and examples toward common off-apex names such as _dmarc.contoso.com or default._domainkey.contoso.com.

When To Stay In The Browser

Use the web workspace when you want:

  • A quick posture-oriented DNS view for one domain
  • A focused answer view for common record types
  • A quick resolver switch between browser-safe DoH providers
  • One-click preset pivots for common DNS jobs
  • A quick export of the focused DNS view into notes or tickets
  • A browser-safe workflow that still matches the DD DNS engine

When To Switch To DnsClientX Locally

Switch to DnsClientX locally when you want:

  • Explicit resolver selection
  • Typed DNS records in C#
  • Batch DNS workflows
  • Benchmarking multiple resolvers
  • System DNS, DoH, DoT, or other provider choices

C# Quick Start

Install the package:

dotnet add package DnsClientX

Run a focused DNS query:

using DnsClientX;

var response = await ClientX.QueryDns("contoso.com", DnsRecordType.A, DnsEndpoint.Cloudflare);
foreach (var answer in response.Answers) {
    Console.WriteLine($"{answer.Name} -> {answer.Data}");
}

Run multiple record types:

using DnsClientX;

using var client = new ClientX(DnsEndpoint.Cloudflare);
var recordTypes = new[] { DnsRecordType.A, DnsRecordType.AAAA, DnsRecordType.MX };
var responses = await client.Resolve("contoso.com", recordTypes);
responses.DisplayTable();

PowerShell Quick Start

Install the module:

Install-Module DnsClientX -Scope CurrentUser
Import-Module DnsClientX

Run focused DNS queries:

Resolve-Dns -Name 'contoso.com' -Type A, AAAA, MX -DnsProvider Cloudflare | Format-Table

Compare resolvers:

Test-DnsBenchmark -Name 'contoso.com' -DnsProvider Cloudflare, Google, Quad9 -Attempts 3 |
    Sort-Object Rank | Format-Table Target, SuccessPercent, AverageMs, Rank, IsRecommended

DomainDetective CLI Path

If you want the broader DD DNS inventory from the command line, use the DomainDetective CLI:

dotnet tool install -g DomainDetective.CLI
domaindetective check contoso.com --checks DNSINVENTORY

That keeps the DNS workspace aligned with the rest of the DomainDetective toolchain, while DnsClientX stays the lower-level DNS engine when you want direct control.