DNS-SERVER-MIB

MIB Reference — IPNetwork Monitor · Updated September 09, 2026

All MIBsDNS-SERVER-MIB

Organization: IETF DNS Working Group

Last Updated: 1994-01-28

Category: Web and Application Servers

Description: Defines managed objects for DNS name server software, allowing SNMP-based access to DNS server configuration, zones, and operational counters.

IPNetwork Monitor uses several OIDs from this MIB in network discovery and polling the applicable devices. Start monitoring DNS-SERVER-MIB with a free 30-day trial of IPNetwork Monitor.

What Is DNS-SERVER-MIB?

DNS-SERVER-MIB is an IETF/IANA-registered standards-based module for monitoring DNS name server software over SNMP, independent of any particular vendor's DNS implementation. It exposes configuration data (recursion support, implementation identity) alongside operational counters covering query handling, such as authoritative and non-authoritative answers, referrals, and errors. In monitoring terms it is primarily a software-status MIB: dnsServConfigUpTime and dnsServConfigResetTime track how long the DNS service has been running and when it was last reset, while the counter objects reveal whether the server is answering queries successfully or generating an abnormal rate of errors or no-data responses, making this module a foundational building block for dns server monitoring across mixed-vendor deployments. It is a self-contained application-management MIB but is often deployed alongside the general NETWORK-SERVICES-MIB (applTable) for broader application-instance tracking. It is deployed on any server running SNMP-instrumented DNS server software (e.g., BIND or similar) in enterprise and service-provider environments.

IPNetwork Monitor allows you to monitor SNMP objects defined in DNS-SERVER-MIB. Use the built-in SNMP Monitoring Browser to explore available variables, view their current values and descriptions, and select the objects you want to monitor. You can then create SNMP monitors, configure thresholds, and receive alerts when monitored values change.

Supported Devices

  • vendor-neutral, standards-based MIB, not tied to a specific manufacturer — applies to any DNS server host (e.g., BIND-based servers)

Monitoring Examples

An operator would poll dnsServConfigUpTime to confirm the DNS process hasn't unexpectedly restarted, and watch dnsServCounterErrors and dnsServCounterAuthNoNames over time to detect a rising rate of failed lookups. A sudden spike in dnsServCounterNonAuthNoDatas or dnsServCounterReferrals relative to dnsServCounterAuthAns could indicate zone data problems or misconfigured delegation. dnsServConfigReset could be invoked to reset counters after such an investigation, and dnsServConfigRecurs confirms whether the server is configured to perform recursive resolution.

What Can Be Monitored

  • DNS server uptime
  • query counters (authoritative/non-authoritative/errors)
  • recursion configuration
  • referral counts
  • counter reset time
Imported Objects

From RFC-1213

mib-2

From SNMPv2-CONF

MODULE-COMPLIANCE
OBJECT-GROUP

From SNMPv2-SMI

Counter32
Gauge32
IpAddress
MODULE-IDENTITY
OBJECT-IDENTITY
OBJECT-TYPE

From SNMPv2-TC

DisplayString
RowStatus
TEXTUAL-CONVENTION
TruthValue
OIDs

FAQ

How would DNS-SERVER-MIB help me confirm a BIND server has been stable and answering queries correctly?
dnsServConfigUpTime and dnsServConfigResetTime show how long the DNS service has been running and when it was last reset, while the counter objects for authoritative/non-authoritative answers, referrals, and errors reveal whether the server is answering successfully or generating an abnormal rate of errors.

Can DNS-SERVER-MIB tell me if a name server is misconfigured for recursion?
Yes, it exposes recursion-support configuration alongside implementation identity, so polling those objects confirms whether recursion is enabled as expected on a given DNS server instance.

RFC description

DNS server management MIB for Domain Name System server monitoring.

Start monitoring DNS server host software, e.g. BIND (vendor-neutral, IETF/IANA standard) with a free 30-day trial of IPNetwork Monitor. Import MIBs, browse SNMP OIDs, create custom SNMP monitors, configure alerts, and monitor any SNMP-enabled network device from a single console.

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