---
name: "dnstraceroute"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "dnsdiag"
version: "2.6.0-1"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/dnstraceroute"
---

# dnstraceroute(1)

DNS traceroute utility

## NAME

dnstraceroute - DNS traceroute utility

## DESCRIPTION

dnstraceroute is a traceroute utility to figure out the path that a DNS request is passing through to get to its destination.  Comparing it to a network traceroute can help identify if DNS traffic is routed via any unwanted path.

## USAGE

usage: dnstraceroute \[-h\] \[-q\] \[-a\] \[-s server\] \[-p port\] \[-c count\] \[-t type\] \[-w wait\] hostname

## OPTIONS

- **-h** **--help**

  Show this help

- **-q** **--quiet**

  Quiet

- **-e** **--expert**

  Print expert hints if available

- **-a** **--asn**

  Turn on AS# lookups for each hop encountered

- **-s** **--server**

  DNS server to use (default: first system resolver)

- **-p** **--port**

  DNS server port number (default: 53)

- **-c** **--count**

  Maximum number of hops (default: 30)

- **-w** **--wait**

  Maximum wait time for a reply (default: 5)

- **-t** **--type**

  DNS request record type (default: A)

- **-C** **--color**

  Print colorful output

## SEE ALSO

Full Documentation available at https://dnsdiag.org/