---
name: "Smokeping::probes::DNS"
section: "3"
platform: "linux"
package: "smokeping"
version: "2.3.6-5+squeeze1"
release: "Debian 6.0 (Squeeze)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/Smokeping::probes::DNS"
---

# Smokeping::probes::DNS(3)

Name Service Probe for SmokePing

## NAME

Smokeping::probes::DNS - Name Service Probe for SmokePing

## SYNOPSIS

```
 *** Probes ***
 +DNS
 binary = /usr/bin/dig # mandatory
 forks = 5
 offset = 50%
 step = 300
 timeout = 15
 # The following variables can be overridden in each target section
 lookup = www.example.org
 pings = 5
 server = ns1.someisp.net
 # [...]
 *** Targets ***
 probe = DNS # if this should be the default probe
 # [...]
 + mytarget
 # probe = DNS # if the default probe is something else
 host = my.host
 lookup = www.example.org
 pings = 5
 server = ns1.someisp.net
```

## DESCRIPTION

Integrates dig as a probe into smokeping. The variable **binary** must point to your copy of the dig program. If it is not installed on your system yet, you should install bind-utils \>= 9.0.0.

The Probe asks the given host n-times for it's name. Where n is the amount specified in the config File.

## VARIABLES

Supported probe-specific variables:

- binary

  The location of your dig binary.

  Example value: /usr/bin/dig

  This setting is mandatory.

- forks

  Run this many concurrent processes at maximum

  Example value: 5

  Default value: 5

- offset

  If you run many probes concurrently you may want to prevent them from hitting your network all at the same time. Using the probe-specific offset parameter you can change the point in time when each probe will be run. Offset is specified in % of total interval, or alternatively as 'random', and the offset from the 'General' section is used if nothing is specified here. Note that this does NOT influence the rrds itself, it is just a matter of when data acqusition is initiated. (This variable is only applicable if the variable 'concurrentprobes' is set in the 'General' section.)

  Example value: 50%

- step

  Duration of the base interval that this probe should use, if different from the one specified in the 'Database' section. Note that the step in the RRD files is fixed when they are originally generated, and if you change the step parameter afterwards, you'll have to delete the old RRD files or somehow convert them. (This variable is only applicable if the variable 'concurrentprobes' is set in the 'General' section.)

  Example value: 300

- timeout

  How long a single 'ping' takes at maximum

  Example value: 15

  Default value: 5

Supported target-specific variables:

- lookup

  Name of the host to look up in the dns.

  Example value: www.example.org

- pings

  How many pings should be sent to each target, if different from the global value specified in the Database section. Note that the number of pings in the RRD files is fixed when they are originally generated, and if you change this parameter afterwards, you'll have to delete the old RRD files or somehow convert them.

  Example value: 5

- server

  Name of the dns server to use.

  Example value: ns1.someisp.net

## AUTHORS

```
 Igor Petrovski <pigor@myrealbox.com>,
 Carl Elkins <carl@celkins.org.uk>,
 Andre Stolze <stolze@uni-muenster.de>,
 Niko Tyni <ntyni@iki.fi>,
 Chris Poetzel<cpoetzel@anl.gov>
```