Determining BIND version using dig

Here's a simple way to query a nameserver what version of BIND it is running.


# dig @yns1.yahoo.com version.bind chaos txt

; <<>> DiG 9.2.4 <<>> @yns1.yahoo.com version.bind chaos txt
; (1 server found)
;; global options: printcmd
;; Got answer:
;; ->>HEADER<<- opcode: QUERY, status: NOERROR, id: 31576 ;; flags: qr aa rd; QUERY: 1, ANSWER: 1, AUTHORITY: 0, ADDITIONAL: 0 ;; QUESTION SECTION: ;version.bind. CH TXT ;; ANSWER SECTION: version.bind. 0 CH TXT "9.2.3" ;; Query time: 238 msec ;; SERVER: 66.218.71.205#53(66.218.71.205) ;; WHEN: Sat Feb 24 19:10:14 2007 ;; MSG SIZE rcvd: 48 #