<para>
Unless it is told to query a specific name server,
- <command>dig</command> will try each of the servers listed
- in
- <filename>/etc/resolv.conf</filename>.
+ <command>dig</command> will try each of the servers listed in
+ <filename>/etc/resolv.conf</filename>. If no usable server addreses
+ are found, <command>dig</command> will send the query to the local
+ host.
</para>
<para>
<term><constant>server</constant></term>
<listitem>
<para>
- is the name or IP address of the name server to query. This can
- be an IPv4
- address in dotted-decimal notation or an IPv6
+ is the name or IP address of the name server to query. This
+ can be an IPv4 address in dotted-decimal notation or an IPv6
address in colon-delimited notation. When the supplied
- <parameter>server</parameter> argument is a
- hostname,
- <command>dig</command> resolves that name before
- querying that name
- server. If no <parameter>server</parameter>
- argument is provided,
- <command>dig</command> consults <filename>/etc/resolv.conf</filename>
- and queries the name servers listed there. The reply from the
- name
- server that responds is displayed.
+ <parameter>server</parameter> argument is a hostname,
+ <command>dig</command> resolves that name before querying
+ that name server.
+ </para>
+ <para>
+ If no <parameter>server</parameter> argument is
+ provided, <command>dig</command> consults
+ <filename>/etc/resolv.conf</filename>; if an
+ address is found there, it queries the name server at
+ that address. If either of the <option>-4</option> or
+ <option>-6</option> options are in use, then
+ only addresses for the corresponding transport
+ will be tried. If no usable addresses are found,
+ <command>dig</command> will send the query to the
+ local host. The reply from the name server that
+ responds is displayed.
</para>
</listitem>
</varlistentry>