Why DNS resolvers return different answers

Compare DNS records while accounting for cache age, traffic distribution and resolver policies.

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A difference is a clue

Recursive resolvers cache DNS answers. During a record change, one resolver may still return a cached answer while another has fetched a newer value. Content distribution and resolver policy can also affect answers.

Compare like with like

Use the same domain and record type for each resolver. An A record is an IPv4 address; an AAAA record is an IPv6 address. Compare record sets rather than assuming that the order of addresses matters. Check whether a response was unavailable before interpreting a missing value.

Do not call it global propagation

Comparing Cloudflare, Google and Quad9 answers is resolver comparison. It does not show that a change is visible in every country. If a record was recently changed, verify the intended authoritative configuration and repeat the comparison after relevant cache lifetimes have elapsed.

Example

Illustrative A-record comparison
Resolver A: 192.0.2.10
Resolver B: 192.0.2.20
These documentation addresses represent differing answers, not live hosts.

What to check next

  1. Choose A, AAAA, MX or another supported record type.
  2. Run DNS Resolver Comparison and separate unavailable responses from differing answers.
  3. Check the intended record with the DNS administrator. Record when it changed and compare again after caching can expire.

References

Protocol reference: RFC 1034