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On a Linux system that uses systemd-resolved, start with resolvectl status. It shows DNS servers by interface and can reveal whether a VPN or another link supplies its own resolver. On NetworkManager systems, check nmcli device show. For a quick traditional view, read /etc/resolv.conf; to see the resolver endpoint contacted for one lookup, run dig example.com.
These commands inspect different layers. In particular, 127.0.0.53 in /etc/resolv.conf commonly means applications are talking to a local stub—not that this loopback address is the upstream DNS provider.
First, know which DNS server you mean
“DNS server” can refer to several things:
- Configured resolver: A DNS address supplied by DHCP, a VPN, NetworkManager, systemd-networkd, or a static setting.
- Local stub or cache: A local address, such as
127.0.0.53or127.0.0.1, that accepts applications’ requests and may forward them elsewhere. - Upstream resolver: The remote DNS service that a local stub or cache contacts.
- Resolver used for one query: The endpoint a particular command or application contacted. Routing rules can make it vary by domain or interface.
These are usually recursive resolvers or forwarding services, not the authoritative DNS server responsible for a domain’s records.
Use resolvectl on systemd-resolved systems
resolvectl statusRead the DNS Servers entries under Global and the active links, such as enp3s0 or wlan0. A link may have a different server from the global configuration. The detailed output can also show search or routing domains and whether the resolver is operating in stub mode.
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For a shorter list of per-link DNS settings, use:
resolvectl dnsTo inspect domain routing and whether a link is treated as a default route for DNS, use:
resolvectl domain
resolvectl default-routeOutput varies by systemd version and configuration; some systems do not have a global entry or use different fields. resolvectl is available when the relevant systemd tools are installed, but systemd-resolved is not used by every Linux installation. See the resolvectl manual and the systemd-resolved documentation.
Check NetworkManager’s active DNS settings
If NetworkManager manages the connection, inspect DNS addresses associated with active devices:
nmcli device show | grep -E 'IP[46].DNS'Example fields may look like IP4.DNS[1] or IP6.DNS[1]. To inspect one device, substitute its actual name:
nmcli device status
nmcli device show enp3s0Find active connection profiles with nmcli connection show --active. A profile’s saved DNS values are not necessarily identical to the runtime state, particularly if the connection has not been reactivated or DNS is supplied dynamically. To inspect saved values, replace the profile name below:
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nmcli connection show "My Wi-Fi"
nmcli -g ipv4.dns,ipv6.dns connection show "My Wi-Fi"NetworkManager may pass DNS information to systemd-resolved or another DNS plugin rather than placing upstream addresses directly in /etc/resolv.conf. Its connection settings also support priorities and search or routing domains, depending on configuration. See the nmcli manual and NetworkManager connection settings.
Read /etc/resolv.conf
cat /etc/resolv.conf
ls -l /etc/resolv.conf
readlink -f /etc/resolv.confThis traditional resolver file can contain lines such as nameserver 192.168.1.1, or a local address such as nameserver 127.0.0.53. The latter commonly identifies systemd-resolved’s local stub, not its upstream server. Use resolvectl status to inspect systemd-resolved’s active upstream and per-link information.
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The file may be a symlink or a generated file maintained by a network manager, DHCP client, VPN, or local DNS service. Manually editing it may be temporary and overwritten when networking changes. The traditional format has nameserver, search, and options directives, with support for up to three nameserver entries; actual resolver behavior can depend on the implementation and options. See the resolv.conf manual.
See the resolver contacted for one lookup
dig example.comLook near the end of the output for the SERVER line, for example:
;; SERVER: 127.0.0.53#53(127.0.0.53)This says that this dig invocation contacted the local stub. It does not reveal which upstream resolver the stub used. For only the returned addresses, dig +short example.com is convenient, but it omits the diagnostic server line.
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To test a particular resolver directly, specify it with @:
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dig @1.1.1.1 example.com
dig @9.9.9.9 example.comA successful direct query proves that the chosen server answered that test; it does not prove the system resolver is configured to use that server. To test address families or record types, try dig -4 example.com, dig -6 example.com, dig example.com A, or dig example.com AAAA. The SERVER line identifies the endpoint used by that command, not necessarily the path used by a browser, container, or another application.
If resolvectl or dig is unavailable
Check whether systemd-resolved is active and where the resolver file points:
systemctl is-active systemd-resolved
readlink -f /etc/resolv.confIf available, nslookup example.com often prints a server and address, while host example.com performs a simple lookup. These tools may not be installed by default and usually provide less diagnostic detail than dig.
To test name resolution through the system’s normal name-service path, use:
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getent hosts example.comThis checks the configured Name Service Switch path, which can use sources such as /etc/hosts as well as DNS. It does not necessarily identify a DNS server or prove that the answer came from DNS.
When interfaces, VPNs, or split DNS are involved
With Wi-Fi and Ethernet active together, a VPN, or virtual interfaces, there may be no single resolver that handles every name. A VPN can install a DNS server and search domain, or route only selected domains through its resolver. A routing domain such as ~corp.example indicates domain-specific routing; it does not mean all queries go to that server.
Check active links, domains, and NetworkManager connections together:
resolvectl status
resolvectl domain
resolvectl default-route
nmcli device status
nmcli connection show --activeFor a particular interface, first identify its name with ip link or nmcli device status, then run:
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nmcli device show enp3s0 | grep -E 'IP[46].DNS'Replace enp3s0 with the interface you are investigating. IPv4 and IPv6 may have different DNS servers. A result from one interface does not establish which resolver handled a domain routed over another link.
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Why DNS commands can disagree
Different results are not automatically a configuration error. They may describe different layers:
/etc/resolv.confshows the file-based resolver endpoint presented to traditional clients.resolvectlshows systemd-resolved’s active configuration, including per-link settings.nmcli device showreports device state known to NetworkManager;nmcli connection showcan show saved profile values.digidentifies the endpoint that particular command contacted.getenttests the system name-service path, which may not rely exclusively on DNS.
Local services such as dnsmasq, Unbound, Pi-hole, or a corporate agent can also listen locally and forward queries upstream. A local address alone does not disclose the forwarding destination.
A practical troubleshooting sequence
- Check the active resolver configuration: run
resolvectl statusif available; check NetworkManager withnmcli device show. - Identify the resolver file and its target: run
cat /etc/resolv.confandreadlink -f /etc/resolv.conf. - Test ordinary system resolution: run
getent hosts example.com. - See what a DNS query contacts: run
dig example.comand inspectSERVER. - Compare a specific upstream: run
dig @SERVER example.com, substituting the DNS address you want to test. - Check local listeners if a loopback address appears: run
ss -lntup | grep ':53'. A TCP check alone is not a complete DNS test: ordinary DNS commonly uses UDP and may fall back to TCP.
If the commands are being run inside a container or virtual machine, they describe that environment’s resolver configuration, not necessarily the host’s. Run the checks in the same network namespace as the application with the problem.
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Quick Recap
Choose the command for your question
| What you want to know | Command |
|---|---|
| Active resolver and per-link DNS on systemd-resolved | resolvectl status |
| Configured DNS addresses by link | resolvectl dns |
| DNS associated with NetworkManager devices | nmcli device show |
| Traditional file-based resolver endpoint | cat /etc/resolv.conf |
| Endpoint contacted for one lookup | dig example.com |
| Test a specified resolver directly | dig @SERVER example.com |
| Test normal system name resolution | getent hosts example.com |
| Investigate VPN or split-DNS routing | resolvectl status and resolvectl domain |
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