---
title: DNS Check
description: Monitor the resolvablity of and lookup times for any DNS record.
breadcrumbs: Docs > Integrations > DNS Check
---

# DNS Check
Supported OS Integration version5.5.0
{% callout %}
# Important note for users on the following Datadog sites: us2.ddog-gov.com

{% alert level="info" %}
To find out if this integration is available in your organization, see your [Datadog Integrations](https://app.datadoghq.com/integrations) page or ask your organization administrator.

To initiate an exception request to enable this integration for your organization, email [support@ddog-gov.com](mailto:support@ddog-gov.com).
{% /alert %}

{% /callout %}

## Overview{% #overview %}

Monitor the resolvability of and lookup times for any DNS records using nameservers of your choosing.

**Minimum Agent version:** 6.0.0

## Setup{% #setup %}

### Installation{% #installation %}

The DNS check is included in the [Datadog Agent](https://app.datadoghq.com/account/settings/agent/latest) package. No additional installation is needed on your server.

Though many metrics-oriented checks are best run on the same host(s) as the monitored service, you may want to run this status-oriented check from hosts that do not run the monitored DNS services.

### Configuration{% #configuration %}

1. Edit the `dns_check.d/conf.yaml` file, in the `conf.d/` folder at the root of your [Agent's configuration directory](https://docs.datadoghq.com/agent/guide/agent-configuration-files.md#agent-configuration-directory) to start collecting your DNS data. See the [sample dns_check.d/conf.yaml](https://github.com/DataDog/integrations-core/blob/master/dns_check/datadog_checks/dns_check/data/conf.yaml.example) for all available configuration options:

   ```yaml
   init_config:
   
   instances:
     ## @param name - string - required
     ## Name of your DNS check instance.
     ## To create multiple DNS checks, create multiple instances with unique names.
     #
     - name: '<INSTANCE_NAME>'
   
       ## @param hostname - string - required
       ## Hostname to resolve.
       #
       hostname: '<HOSTNAME>'
   ```

If you omit the `nameserver` option, the check uses whichever nameserver is configured in local network settings.

1. [Restart the Agent](https://docs.datadoghq.com/agent/guide/agent-commands.md#start-stop-and-restart-the-agent) to begin sending DNS service checks and response times to Datadog.

### Validation{% #validation %}

[Run the Agent's `status` subcommand](https://docs.datadoghq.com/agent/guide/agent-commands.md#agent-status-and-information) and look for `dns_check` under the Checks section.

## Data Collected{% #data-collected %}

### Metrics{% #metrics %}

|  |
|  |
| **dns.response\_time**(gauge) | The response time for DNS query for a given record, tagged by hostname, e.g. 'hostname:example.com'.*Shown as second* |

### Events{% #events %}

The DNS check does not include any events.

### Service Checks{% #service-checks %}

**dns.can\_resolve**

Returns Critical if DNS resolution times out or fails, OK otherwise. .

*Statuses: ok, critical*

## Troubleshooting{% #troubleshooting %}

Need help? Contact [Datadog support](https://docs.datadoghq.com/help/).