Hi,

1. Is my DNS server now visible from the INTERNET .. how can I tell ? Log on to another Unix/Linux machine in the internet. Run nslookup in interactive mode. In nslookup, enter the following commands: nslookup> set q=any nslookup> server (IP of your server)

If this command works, one can probably query your server from the internet. Try an FQDN your server should know about: nslookup> www.yourdomain.com To leave the nslookup program, type "exit". I know that nslookup has nearly become obsolete and one should use dig, nevertheless I like nslookup.

2. Is there a way to directly query the DNS server and know the result has come from there and not some other name resolution process. If you try it the way above, you may get the additional hint "Authoritative answers can be found from <some other server>." So you can at least tell if the queried server gives the answer or any other server. Bye Uli -- Ulrich Roth IMPACT Business & Technology Consulting GmbH Im Mediapark 8 / KölnTurm D-50670 Koeln Phone +49-221-93 70 80-29 Fax +49-221-93 70 80-15 E-Mail: roth at impact dot de