# Install dnstracer with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, zypper Trace a chain of DNS servers to the source. Version 1.9 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:dnstracer ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install dnstracer ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install dnstracer ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: net/dnstracer/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - apk (92%): ```sh sudo apk add dnstracer ``` Evidence: Alpine Linux edge package indexes: dnstracer from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz - Debian apt (92%): ```sh sudo apt install dnstracer ``` Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: dnstracer from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz - dnf (92%): ```sh sudo dnf install dnstracer ``` Evidence: Fedora Rawhide package metadata: dnstracer from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#dnstracer ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/dn/dnstracer/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - zypper (92%): ```sh sudo zypper install dnstracer ``` Evidence: openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: dnstracer from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:dnstracer - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 1.9 - **Source summary:** Trace a chain of DNS servers to the source - **Homepage:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** BSD-2-Clause - **Source archive:** - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - dnstracer (cli) - dnstracer (alias) ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_big_sur, arm64_linux, arm64_monterey, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, big_sur, catalina, monterey, sonoma, ventura ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 1.9 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: http://www.mavetju.org/unix/dnstracer.php - info: No package-manager update timestamp was available. - info: Release/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories. ## Project history and usage dnstracer is a small DNS troubleshooting tool that follows the delegation chain for a name back toward authoritative servers. Its history is thinly documented, but the official pages show an early-2000s Unix utility aimed at explaining how DNS answers are reached. ### Project history The Mavetju project page explains dnstracer as a tool that determines where a DNS server gets information from and follows the chain of DNS servers back to the servers that know the data. The page revision marker is from November 2002, and the man-page source marker is from January 2002. The manual page, dated July 8, 2004, documents the classic behavior: send non-recursive queries, follow authority records, detect lame servers, and stop after all name servers are queried. The official 1.9 source tarball was still being served by the Mavetju site with a 2008 last-modified timestamp. ### Adoption history dnstracer's adoption is mostly as a packaged Unix DNS diagnostic, not as an actively branded upstream project. Homebrew and other Unix package managers keep it available because it does one old-school job that overlaps with, but is not identical to, dig +trace. ### How it is used Users run dnstracer with a domain name and optional query type or starting server. It is useful for visualizing referrals, cached answers, authoritative answers, missing glue, lame servers, and PTR/SOA/MX tracing paths. ### Why package nerds care dnstracer is package-nerd significant as a fossil utility that still earns a slot in package managers: no service, no config, no credentials, just a compact DNS delegation tracer whose behavior is easy to compare across Unix systems. ### Timeline - 2002: Mavetju dnstracer project and man-page revision markers appear on the official pages. - 2004: Manual page dated July 8, 2004. - 2008: Official dnstracer 1.9 source tarball served with a February 10 last-modified timestamp. - 2026: Homebrew still carries dnstracer as a packaged DNS diagnostic. ### Related projects - dig +trace is the common modern comparison point for DNS delegation tracing. traceroute is the conceptual naming relative, but dnstracer traces DNS authority paths rather than network hops. ### Sources - - - - ## Security Notes broad file, network, media, or database tool signal. - **Geiger risk:** blue / medium - broad file, network, media, or database tool signal ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** dnstracer - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - Debian apt - dnstracer - 1.9-8: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: dnstracer from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | trace DNS queries to the source | http://www.mavetju.org/unix/dnstracer.php - Nix - dnstracer: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/dn/dnstracer/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - Ubuntu apt - dnstracer - 1.9-8build1: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: dnstracer from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/main/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | trace DNS queries to the source | http://www.mavetju.org/unix/dnstracer.php - apk - dnstracer - 1.10-r3: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: dnstracer from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Trace a chain of DNS servers to the source | http://www.mavetju.org/unix/dnstracer.php - apk - dnstracer-doc - 1.10-r3: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: dnstracer-doc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Trace a chain of DNS servers to the source (documentation) | http://www.mavetju.org/unix/dnstracer.php - dnf - dnstracer - 1.10-11.fc44: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: dnstracer from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst | Trace DNS queries to the source | http://www.mavetju.org/unix/dnstracer.php - zypper - dnstracer - 1.10-1.19: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: dnstracer from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst | Trace a DNS record to its start of authority | https://www.mavetju.org/unix/dnstracer.php - MacPorts - dnstracer: normalized package name match | MacPorts ports tree: net/dnstracer/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Related links - [Secret-risk packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/secret-risk-packages/) - Has protected-tool coverage, approval-gate, or non-low Geiger security signals. - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [Web development packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/web-dev-tools/) - Matched web development metadata. - [dnsviz](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/dnsviz/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, diagnostics, dns, networking. - [adns](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/adns/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, dns, networking. - [aliddns](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/aliddns/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, dns, networking. - [bind](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/bind/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, dns, networking. - [c-ares](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/c-ares/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, dns, networking. - [cdncheck](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/cdncheck/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, dns, networking. - [checkdmarc](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/checkdmarc/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, dns, networking. - [chinadns-c](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/chinadns-c/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, dns, networking. - [dhcping](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/dhcping/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, diagnostics, networking. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/dnstracer.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/dnstracer.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - curated package history - package version freshness - av.db category and tag curation - package relationship graph - external package-manager database matches - cross-ecosystem install command graph