Host equivalent for the users (non root)

Xeratul · 03-10-2011, 01:02 PM

Hello

host xx.xx.xx.xx gives the DNS lookup of the IP given.

However it requires the root permissions. Is there an equivalent using netstat or other, for the users.
(I would not like to use sudo at all to let users have same tool as host)

Code:

$ host -version
host: illegal option -- e
Usage: host [-aCdlriTwv] [-c class] [-N ndots] [-t type] [-W time]
            [-R number] [-m flag] hostname [server]
       -a is equivalent to -v -t ANY
       -c specifies query class for non-IN data
       -C compares SOA records on authoritative nameservers
       -d is equivalent to -v
       -l lists all hosts in a domain, using AXFR
       -i IP6.INT reverse lookups
       -N changes the number of dots allowed before root lookup is done
       -r disables recursive processing
       -R specifies number of retries for UDP packets
       -s a SERVFAIL response should stop query
       -t specifies the query type
       -T enables TCP/IP mode
       -v enables verbose output
       -w specifies to wait forever for a reply
       -W specifies how long to wait for a reply
       -4 use IPv4 query transport only
       -6 use IPv6 query transport only
       -m set memory debugging flag (trace|record|usage)

thanks

corp769 · 03-10-2011, 01:09 PM

By default, host is not restricted to root. You could always chmod host to give execute permissions to standard users.

jcalzare · 03-10-2011, 01:14 PM

I think you are misunderstanding the output you see there. You typed host -version, and it's displaying an error about a -e option that you didn't use. It's linking -v with -e from the word 'version'.

Anyway, in case I'm misunderstanding you, you can get the same results with the dig utility.

Xeratul · 03-10-2011, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcalzare

I think you are misunderstanding the output you see there. You typed host -version, and it's displaying an error about a -e option that you didn't use. It's linking -v with -e from the word 'version'.

Anyway, in case I'm misunderstanding you, you can get the same results with the dig utility.

thank you very much. Host indeed works now, I have no idea what was the problem.
I did also nmap to seek my pc, and nmap requires root right?

corp769 · 03-10-2011, 11:08 PM

Nmap requires root only for certain flags and arguments. You can run nmap with a standard user, but you can't use all of its feeatures.

Josh