DNSKEY Lookup
Lookup DNSKEY records to validate DNSSEC key publication, key roles (KSK/ZSK), and signer readiness for secure delegation.
Use DNSKEY Lookup in 4 Steps
What is DNSKEY Lookup?
DNSKEY Lookup is used to lookup dnssec dnskey records. This route is designed for fast operational diagnostics with clear educational context.
DNSKEY records publish zone signing keys and anchor DNSSEC trust decisions for validating resolvers.
During migrations or incidents, this check helps determine whether issues are caused by source configuration, resolver caching, or dependency records.
Why It Matters in DNS Operations
- Source verification: confirm live resolver output before broader rollback actions.
- Change windows: detect whether updates are visible where expected.
- Incident triage: narrow likely root-cause early with specific record evidence.
- Team alignment: share URL-state checks to avoid duplicated investigation.
- Best use: DNSSEC onboarding, key-roll checks, and parent-child chain validation before enforcement.
Quick Interpretation Table
| Observed Result | Likely Cause | Next Step |
|---|---|---|
| DNSKEY present, DS missing | Signing is not fully delegated | Publish DS at parent registry/zone |
| Key algorithm mismatch | Validator may reject signatures | Align algorithm between DNSKEY and DS |
| Multiple keys during rollover | Expected during rotation window | Keep overlap until propagation completes |
Troubleshooting Workflow
- Run this record check first for scoped signal.
- Validate nameserver authority and SOA context if results are unexpected.
- Use propagation checks when regions return mixed outcomes.
- Re-run after fixes and compare values against expected policy.
Common Misconfiguration to Avoid
Publishing new keys without confirming DS alignment at the parent zone.
Validation Path
DNSKEY → DS → RRSIG must align for resolvers to trust signed answers.
Data Source and Limitations
Tools provide actionable lookup output where feasible and clear guidance for deeper verification paths. For high-impact production incidents, pair with provider logs and CLI validation.