---
name: "dnsscope"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "powerdns"
version: "5.1.5-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/dnsscope"
---

# dnsscope(1)

A PowerDNS nameserver debugging tool

## NAME

dnsscope - A PowerDNS nameserver debugging tool

## SYNOPSIS

**dnsscope** \[*OPTION*\]... *INFILE*

## DESCRIPTION

**dnsscope** takes an *INFILE* in PCAP format. It generates some simple statistics outputs these to STDOUT.

## OPTIONS

- **INFILE**

  Path to a PCAP file.

- **-h, --help**

  Show the help.

- **--rd**

  Only process packets in *INFILE* with the RD (Recursion Desired) flag set. By default, we process all DNS packets in *INFILE*.

- **--ipv4=***\<state\>*

  Process IPv4 packets. On by default, disable with **--ipv4 false**.

- **--ipv6=***\<state\>*

  Process IPv6 packets. On by default, disable with **--ipv6 false**.

- **-f,***--filter-name**=*****\<domain\>**

  Only process packets within this domain

- **--full-histogram** *\<msec\>*

  Write out histogram with specified bin-size to 'full-histogram'

- **--log-histogram**

  Write out a log-histogram of response times to 'log-histogram'

- **--no-servfail-stats**

  Remove servfail responses from latency statistics

- **--port**

  The source and destination port to consider. Default is looking at packets from and to ports 53 and 5300.

- **--servfail-tree**

  Figure out subtrees that generate servfails.

- **--stats-dir** *\<directory\>*

  Drop statistics files in this directory. Defaults to ./

- **-l, --load-stats**

  Emit per-second load statistics (questions, answers, outstanding).

- **-w** *\<file\>,* **--write-failures** *\<file\>*

  Write weird packets to a PCAP file at *FILENAME*.

- **-v, --verbose**

  Be more verbose.

## SEE ALSO

pcap(3PCAP), [tcpdump(8)](/tcpdump/8.md)

## AUTHOR

PowerDNS.COM BV

## COPYRIGHT

PowerDNS.COM BV