How Do I Know When My DNS Has Propagated?

Setting up DNS can be difficult.  As it is necessary for the success of your online business, you need reassurance that it has been done correctly and everyone can get access to your new online presence.

MxToolbox can help you check your DNS resolution, check status on your DNS propagation and monitor your DNS for changes.

Check your DNS Resolution

The first step is to test which servers are authoritative DNS and lookup the entries you’ve made for your DNS configuration.  Our Free Tools give you all the lookups you need to check your DNS configuration.

DNS: Check the authoritative DNS server.

A:  Verify the IP address of your hostname.

AAAA: Verify the IPv6 address of your hostname, if you use IPv6.

MX: Verify the IP address of your mail server.

PTR: Verify the reverse DNS is properly configured.

SOA: Verify your start of authority record is properly configured.

MxToolbox SuperTool supports many other DNS lookups, but those above are those you should be checking at minimum.

ipv6-in-mx-records-screenshot

An example MX record using MxToolbox.com

Lookup DNS Propagation Status

Checking is all of your DNS servers simultaneously is important.  It’s possible that one server may not be properly synced.  Our new, free, DNS Propagation tool checks all of your DNS servers simultaneously when you lookup a record, compares the Start of Authority record to all servers and highlights the server(s) that are different.  In one lookup, you can view the propagation of your records across your entire DNS pool.

dnspropagation

A well-timed search for Google.com’s A record shows them in the process of propagation across servers.

Monitor your DNS for Changes

MxToolbox recently launched DNS Zone Protect, a monitoring solution for all your DNS, that gives you immediate warning when any change is made to your DNS.  With DNS Zone Protect, you get instant notification of changes to your domain’s DNS.  This new monitor uses AXFR to monitor your domain’s DNS and compares it to previous DNS configurations.  When a change is made, we flag it and notify you.  You get peace of mind knowing that changes to your DNS are being externally monitored by MxToolbox.

DZPStatus

DNS Zone Protect provides current DNS status, across the entire domain/zone.

 

DZPChangeSummary

Changes are easily recognizable with DNS Zone Protect.