Perplexing DNS problem

[Somynona]

Can someone help me out with this. I'm getting a little desperate:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=346220

Basically I can ping IP numbers but not domains, so I have a DNS issue, but my Networks Settings are correct and match all the other machines in the office (apart from own IP of course) which are fine.

I've tried creating a new Network Location and I've tried flushing the cache (i.e. lookupd -flushcache ).

Any ideas?

[weltonch777]

Open up terminal, type

dig

(very short command, I know...)
hit enter, and paste the results into a reply. Please wrap the results in
code tags.

[Somynona]

; <<>> DiG 9.2.2 <<>>
;; global options: printcmd
;; connection timed out; no servers could be reached

[weltonch777]

Try

dig @216.168.228.3

216.168.228.3 is a known good dns server

[Somynona]

; <<>> DiG 9.2.2 <<>> @216.168.228.3
;; global options: printcmd
;; Got answer:
;; ->>HEADER<<- opcode: QUERY, status: NOERROR, id: 4022
;; flags: qr rd; QUERY: 1, ANSWER: 0, AUTHORITY: 13, ADDITIONAL: 0

;; QUESTION SECTION:
;. IN NS

;; AUTHORITY SECTION:
. 3600000 IN NS D.ROOT-SERVERS.NET.
. 3600000 IN NS E.ROOT-SERVERS.NET.
. 3600000 IN NS F.ROOT-SERVERS.NET.
. 3600000 IN NS G.ROOT-SERVERS.NET.
. 3600000 IN NS H.ROOT-SERVERS.NET.
. 3600000 IN NS I.ROOT-SERVERS.NET.
. 3600000 IN NS J.ROOT-SERVERS.NET.
. 3600000 IN NS K.ROOT-SERVERS.NET.
. 3600000 IN NS L.ROOT-SERVERS.NET.
. 3600000 IN NS M.ROOT-SERVERS.NET.
. 3600000 IN NS A.ROOT-SERVERS.NET.
. 3600000 IN NS B.ROOT-SERVERS.NET.
. 3600000 IN NS C.ROOT-SERVERS.NET.

;; Query time: 189 msec
;; SERVER: 216.168.228.3#53(216.168.228.3)
;; WHEN: Fri Feb 3 15:20:30 2006
;; MSG SIZE rcvd: 228

[weltonch777]

Yay... you're resolving (almost).
try setting your DNS server in System Preferences to
206.63.253.114

It is a DNS server that I administer. (Please note this is not the same as the last address)
After setting it as the DNS server, try

ping www.google.com

You should get results (hopefully)

[Somynona]

That's it. Thanks a million.

What I don't get is why the dozen or so other machines in my office work fine with our ISPs DNS servers when this one won't?

[weltonch777]

I don't know...
That said, would you mind sending me a PM with the name of your ISP so I can try to find one of their DNS servers that will work for you? The server you are using now is a PC located the basement of a house in Redmond, WA, USA.

[Somynona]

Haha, no problem. Thanks again for your help.

[weltonch777]

That's one , um. "interesting" ISP you have there.
Their name servers don't respond.
Their registrants main name servers respond without resolving addresses.
Fortunately, their registrants oddly named "extra" name servers do.
Get a clue, people.(ISP)

[weltonch777]

Ok, so your ISP is being very mean...
go ahead and use
ns1.nz.opennic.glue (Auckland, NZ) - 202.89.131.4
It works, it's close to you, and I tested it fully