Query a particular DNS Server for a hostname

dig @ ns1.namecity.com helpdesk.spectrumcs.net

host helpdesk.spectrumcs.net ns1.namecity.com

Query for MX records

dig mx helpdesk.spectrumcs.net

host -t MX helpdesk.spectrumcs.net

dig NS spectrumcs.net

host -t NS spectrumcs.net

dig -x 109.169.47.183

host 109.169.47.183

-a Make a verbose query of type ANY. Equivalent to -v -t ANY.

-r Perform non-recursive query to the name server by clearing RD (“recursion desired”) bit of the query.

-s Report SERVFAIL responses as they are, do not ignore them..

-t type

Perform DNS query of type type, which can be any standard query type name (A, CNAME, MX, TXT, etc), a wildcard query (ANY)