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What are the DNS Request Types?
The following table explains the DNS Request Types that can be collected and listed in an OpenDNS report.
| DNS Lookup Type | Description | Function |
|---|---|---|
| A | IPv4 address record | Returns a 32-bit IP address, which typically maps a domain's hostname to an IP address, but also used for DNSBLs and storing subnet masks |
| AAAA | IPv6 address record | Returns a 128-bit IP address that maps a domain's hostname to an IP address |
| MX | Mail exchange record | Maps a domain name to a list of message transfer agents for that domain |
| NS | Name server record | Delegates a DNS zone to use the specified authoritative name servers |
| PTR | Pointer record | Pointer to a canonical name that returns the name only and is used for implementing reverse DNS lookups |
| SOA | Start of authority record | Specifies authoritative information about a DNS zone, including the primary name server, the email of the domain administrator, the domain serial number, and several timers relating to refreshing the zone |
| SRV | Service locator | Generalized service location record, used for newer protocols instead of creating protocol-specific records such as MX |
| TXT | Text record | Carries extra data, sometimes human-readable, most of the time machine-readable such as opportunistic encryption, DomainKeys, DNS-SD, etc. |