resolver: a nameserver is asked at each of its addresses in turn (closes #285)

A nameserver's queries went only to the first IPv4 address its name
resolves to, so one unreachable address made it fail whenever that
address came first in the answer. Each record type is now asked at the
addresses one at a time until one gives a usable reply, and the next
type is asked first at the address that gave it. A type that fails is
logged with the reason at each address, and a nameserver is reported as
timed out only when every query timed out. The README's DNS Resolution
Strategy says which addresses are asked.

Model: opus-5-5

README.md

@@ -133,18 +133,19 @@ notification endpoint set, changes show only on the dashboard; see
 - Queries **each** authoritative nameserver independently for **all** record
   types: A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, TXT, SRV, CAA, NS.
 - Each record type is a query of its own. When a nameserver answers some types
-  but the query for another gets no usable reply (no reply after two tries, an
+  but the query for another gets no usable reply at any of its addresses (no
-  error reply such as SERVFAIL, a referral, or a reply too large for UDP whose
+  reply after two tries, an error reply such as SERVFAIL, a referral, or a reply
-  retry over TCP fails), the failure is logged with the reason, and the type is
+  too large for UDP whose retry over TCP fails), the failure is logged with the
-  listed in the nameserver's `failedTypes` and keeps the records saved for the
+  reason, and the type is listed in the nameserver's `failedTypes` and keeps the
-  nameserver by the previous check. On that check those records are not compared
+  records saved for the nameserver by the previous check. On that check those
-  with the other nameservers', so no record change or inconsistency is reported
+  records are not compared with the other nameservers', so no record change or
-  for the type; on the next check they are compared with the nameserver's answer
+  inconsistency is reported for the type; on the next check they are compared
-  as usual. When the previous check did not know the type's records either,
+  with the nameserver's answer as usual. When the previous check did not know
-  because the nameserver was new or failing then or the type was already listed
+  the type's records either, because the nameserver was new or failing then or
-  in `unknownTypes`, the type is also listed in `unknownTypes` and left out of
+  the type was already listed in `unknownTypes`, the type is also listed in
-  every comparison until it answers. A nameserver none of whose queries got a
+  `unknownTypes` and left out of every comparison until it answers. A nameserver
-  usable reply has failed (see NS query failure below).
+  none of whose queries got a usable reply has failed (see NS query failure
+  below).
 - Stores results **per nameserver**. The state for a hostname is not a merged
   view — it is a map from nameserver to record set.
 - DNS names inside record values (CNAME, MX, SRV and NS targets) are stored in
@@ -549,6 +550,11 @@ name's nameservers and in the lookup of a nameserver's own address. Such a
 lookup can need others in turn; lookups go at most three deep, one inside
 another, so delegations that point at each other still end.
 
+In step 4 each record type is asked at the IPv4 addresses the nameserver's name
+resolves to, one at a time, until one gives a usable reply; the next type is
+asked first at that address. A type's query fails only when none of them gives
+one, and the nameserver has failed only when that is so for every type.
+
 This approach ensures:
 
 - Independence from any upstream resolver's cache or filtering.

TODO.md

@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ milestone: https://git.eeqj.de/sneak/dnswatcher/milestone/7
 
 # Completed Steps
 
+- 2026-10-15: a nameserver is asked at each of its IPv4 addresses in turn, so it
+  has failed only when none of them gives a usable reply (closes #285).
 - 2026-10-13: a hostname or a domain whose zone's nameservers all stop answering
   gets an NS Failure for each, then an NS Recovery (closes #284).
 - 2026-10-13: an IPv6 address is written in brackets before its port, as in

internal/resolver/export_test.go

@@ -96,6 +96,17 @@ func (r *Resolver) QueryServers(
 	return r.queryServers(ctx, servers, zone, name, qtype)
 }
 
+// QueryTypes exports queryTypes for testing.
+func (r *Resolver) QueryTypes(
+	ctx context.Context,
+	nsHostname string,
+	nsIPs []string,
+	hostname string,
+	qtypes []uint16,
+) (*NameserverResponse, error) {
+	return r.queryTypes(ctx, nsHostname, nsIPs, hostname, qtypes)
+}
+
 // QueryEachNS exports queryEachNS for testing.
 func (r *Resolver) QueryEachNS(
 	ctx context.Context,

internal/resolver/iterative.go

@@ -708,8 +708,9 @@ func (r *Resolver) QueryNameserver(
 	return r.queryNameserver(ctx, nsHostname, hostname, recordTypes())
 }
 
-// queryNameserver queries a specific nameserver for the record types
+// queryNameserver queries a specific nameserver, at the IPv4 addresses
-// in qtypes and builds a NameserverResponse.
+// its name resolves to, for the record types in qtypes and builds a
+// NameserverResponse.
 func (r *Resolver) queryNameserver(
 	ctx context.Context,
 	nsHostname string,
@@ -727,7 +728,7 @@ func (r *Resolver) queryNameserver(
 
 	hostname = dns.Fqdn(hostname)
 
-	return r.queryTypes(ctx, nsHostname, nsIPs[0], hostname, qtypes)
+	return r.queryTypes(ctx, nsHostname, nsIPs, hostname, qtypes)
 }
 
 // QueryNameserverIP queries a nameserver by its IP address directly,
@@ -744,13 +745,18 @@ func (r *Resolver) QueryNameserverIP(
 
 	hostname = dns.Fqdn(hostname)
 
-	return r.queryTypes(ctx, nsHostname, nsIP, hostname, recordTypes())
+	return r.queryTypes(
+		ctx, nsHostname, []string{nsIP}, hostname, recordTypes(),
+	)
 }
 
+// queryTypes asks the nameserver nsHostname, at its addresses nsIPs,
+// about hostname's records of each type in qtypes and builds a
+// NameserverResponse.
 func (r *Resolver) queryTypes(
 	ctx context.Context,
 	nsHostname string,
-	nsIP string,
+	nsIPs []string,
 	hostname string,
 	qtypes []uint16,
 ) (*NameserverResponse, error) {
@@ -760,7 +766,7 @@ func (r *Resolver) queryTypes(
 		Status:     StatusOK,
 	}
 
-	state := r.queryEachType(ctx, nsIP, hostname, qtypes, resp)
+	state := r.queryEachType(ctx, nsIPs, hostname, qtypes, resp)
 	classifyResponse(resp, state)
 
 	return resp, nil
@@ -778,28 +784,37 @@ type queryState struct {
 	answered      bool
 }
 
-// queryEachType asks the nameserver at nsIP about hostname once for each
+// queryEachType asks the nameserver about hostname's records of each type
-// record type in qtypes, and lists in resp.FailedTypes the types whose
+// in qtypes, at its addresses nsIPs in turn until one gives a usable
-// query got no usable reply, logging each with the reason unless ctx was
+// reply, and lists in resp.FailedTypes the types that got none at any of
-// cancelled: shutdown cancels it, and a query it cut short did not fail.
+// them, logging each with the reasons unless ctx was cancelled: shutdown
+// cancels it, and a query it cut short did not fail.
 func (r *Resolver) queryEachType(
 	ctx context.Context,
-	nsIP string,
+	nsIPs []string,
 	hostname string,
 	qtypes []uint16,
 	resp *NameserverResponse,
 ) queryState {
 	var state queryState
 
+	// Reordered below; the caller's list is left as it was.
+	nsIPs = slices.Clone(nsIPs)
+
 	for _, qtype := range qtypes {
 		if checkCtx(ctx) != nil {
 			break
 		}
 
-		err := r.querySingleType(ctx, nsIP, hostname, qtype, resp, &state)
+		answeredAt, err := r.querySingleType(
+			ctx, nsIPs, hostname, qtype, resp, &state,
+		)
 		if err == nil {
 			state.answered = true
 
+			// The next type is asked first at the address that answered.
+			nsIPs[0], nsIPs[answeredAt] = nsIPs[answeredAt], nsIPs[0]
+
 			continue
 		}
 
@@ -833,20 +848,34 @@ func (r *Resolver) queryEachType(
 	return state
 }
 
-// querySingleType asks the nameserver at nsIP about hostname's records
+// querySingleType asks the nameserver about hostname's records of type
-// of type qtype. It returns nil when the nameserver answered: with
+// qtype at its addresses nsIPs, one at a time, until one answers: with
-// records, with none, or with NXDOMAIN; otherwise it returns why not.
+// records, with none, or with NXDOMAIN. It returns the index in nsIPs of
+// the address that answered; when none did, it returns why each did not,
+// each reason naming its address.
 func (r *Resolver) querySingleType(
 	ctx context.Context,
-	nsIP string,
+	nsIPs []string,
 	hostname string,
 	qtype uint16,
 	resp *NameserverResponse,
 	state *queryState,
-) error {
+) (int, error) {
-	msg, err := r.queryDNS(ctx, nsIP, hostname, qtype)
+	if len(nsIPs) == 0 {
-	if err != nil {
+		return 0, ErrNoNameserverAnswered
+	}
+
+	var errs []error
+
+	for i, nsIP := range nsIPs {
+		msg, err := r.queryDNS(ctx, nsIP, hostname, qtype)
+
 		switch {
+		case err == nil:
+			err = readReply(msg, resp, state)
+			if err != nil {
+				err = fmt.Errorf("query %s @%s: %w", hostname, nsIP, err)
+			}
 		case isTimeout(err):
 			state.gotTimeout = true
 		case errors.Is(err, ErrRefused):
@@ -855,10 +884,14 @@ func (r *Resolver) querySingleType(
 			state.netErr = err
 		}
 
-		return err
+		if err == nil {
+			return i, nil
+		}
+
+		errs = append(errs, err)
 	}
 
-	return readReply(msg, resp, state)
+	return 0, errors.Join(errs...)
 }
 
 // readReply adds to resp the records in msg, a nameserver's reply to a
@@ -952,17 +985,15 @@ func isTimeout(err error) bool {
 }
 
 // classifyResponse sets the nameserver's status. One that answered no
-// record type has failed, and Error says why; one that answered some has
+// record type has failed, and Error says why; it says all queries timed
-// the status of those answers. It has no data only when every type
+// out only when every query, at every address, did. One that answered
+// some has the status of those answers. It has no data only when every type
 // answered with no records: a type in FailedTypes may have records, so a
 // nameserver with one stays ok.
 func classifyResponse(resp *NameserverResponse, state queryState) {
 	switch {
 	case state.gotNXDomain && !state.hasRecords:
 		resp.Status = StatusNXDomain
-	case state.gotTimeout && !state.answered:
-		resp.Status = StatusTimeout
-		resp.Error = "all queries timed out"
 	case state.gotErrorReply && !state.answered:
 		resp.Status = StatusError
 		resp.Error = "server returned " + state.errorReply
@@ -975,6 +1006,9 @@ func classifyResponse(resp *NameserverResponse, state queryState) {
 	case state.gotReferral && !state.answered:
 		resp.Status = StatusError
 		resp.Error = "server returned a referral"
+	case state.gotTimeout && !state.answered:
+		resp.Status = StatusTimeout
+		resp.Error = "all queries timed out"
 	// An NXDOMAIN reply with no records was taken by the first case.
 	case !state.hasRecords && len(resp.FailedTypes) == 0:
 		resp.Status = StatusNoData

internal/resolver/iterative_internal_test.go

@@ -100,6 +100,20 @@ func TestClassifyResponse(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+// TestClassifyResponse_RefusedAndTimedOut sets the status of a
+// nameserver one of whose addresses refused every query while another
+// never replied. It has failed with the refusal: not every query timed
+// out.
+func TestClassifyResponse_RefusedAndTimedOut(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	resp := &NameserverResponse{Status: StatusOK, FailedTypes: []string{"A"}}
+	classifyResponse(resp, queryState{gotRefused: true, gotTimeout: true})
+
+	assert.Equal(t, StatusError, resp.Status)
+	assert.Equal(t, "server returned REFUSED", resp.Error)
+}
+
 // TestReadReply checks which replies to a query about one record type,
 // built here, are an answer: one with the code NOERROR or NXDOMAIN. A
 // reply with any other code is not, and the type's query has failed; a

internal/resolver/resolver_test.go

@@ -360,6 +360,110 @@ func TestQueryNameserver_ZoneDelegatedWithoutAddresses(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, resolver.StatusOK, resp.Status)
 }
 
+// TestQueryTypes_FirstAddressNeverAnswers asks a google.com nameserver
+// about google.com's A and AAAA records at a list of addresses that puts
+// 192.0.2.1, where nothing answers, before the nameserver's own. The
+// nameserver answers at its own address, so it is ok, with its records.
+// Each attempt has time for one round of tries at 192.0.2.1, two tries
+// of two seconds, and not for two, so AAAA must be asked first at the
+// address that answered A.
+func TestQueryTypes_FirstAddressNeverAnswers(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	r := newTestResolver(t)
+	ns := findOneNSForDomain(t, r, "google.com")
+	nsIPs := append(
+		[]string{noAnswerAddress}, liveResolveNSIPs(t, r, []string{ns}, 1)...,
+	)
+
+	var resp *resolver.NameserverResponse
+
+	livednstest.Retry(
+		t,
+		"QueryTypes("+ns+" at "+strings.Join(nsIPs, ", ")+", google.com)",
+		func(ctx context.Context) error {
+			ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(ctx, 6*time.Second)
+			defer cancel()
+
+			var err error
+
+			resp, err = r.QueryTypes(
+				ctx, ns, nsIPs, "google.com.",
+				[]uint16{dns.TypeA, dns.TypeAAAA},
+			)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+
+			if len(resp.FailedTypes) > 0 {
+				return fmt.Errorf(
+					"%w: %s gave no usable reply for %s",
+					livednstest.ErrNoAnswer, ns,
+					strings.Join(resp.FailedTypes, ", "),
+				)
+			}
+
+			return nil
+		},
+	)
+
+	assert.Equal(t, resolver.StatusOK, resp.Status)
+	assert.NotEmpty(t, resp.Records["A"])
+	assert.NotEmpty(t, resp.Records["AAAA"])
+}
+
+// TestQueryTypes_EveryAddressFails asks a google.com nameserver about
+// cloudflare.com, a zone it does not serve, at 192.0.2.1, where nothing
+// answers, and then at its own address, which refuses. The nameserver
+// has failed with the refusal, not a timeout, and the warning about the
+// type gives the reason at each address.
+func TestQueryTypes_EveryAddressFails(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	var logs bytes.Buffer
+
+	r := resolver.NewFromLogger(slog.New(slog.NewTextHandler(&logs, nil)))
+	ns := findOneNSForDomain(t, r, "google.com")
+	nsIPs := append(
+		[]string{noAnswerAddress}, liveResolveNSIPs(t, r, []string{ns}, 1)...,
+	)
+
+	var resp *resolver.NameserverResponse
+
+	livednstest.Retry(
+		t,
+		"QueryTypes("+ns+" at "+strings.Join(nsIPs, ", ")+", cloudflare.com)",
+		func(ctx context.Context) error {
+			logs.Reset()
+
+			var err error
+
+			resp, err = r.QueryTypes(
+				ctx, ns, nsIPs, "cloudflare.com.", []uint16{dns.TypeA},
+			)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+
+			// A timeout or a network error at its own address is no
+			// reply at all.
+			if resp.Status == resolver.StatusTimeout ||
+				strings.HasPrefix(resp.Error, "network error") {
+				return fmt.Errorf(
+					"%w: %s: %s", livednstest.ErrNoAnswer, ns, resp.Error,
+				)
+			}
+
+			return nil
+		},
+	)
+
+	assert.Equal(t, resolver.StatusError, resp.Status)
+	assert.Equal(t, "server returned REFUSED", resp.Error)
+	assert.Contains(t, logs.String(), "@"+noAnswerAddress+": ")
+	assert.Contains(t, logs.String(), "@"+nsIPs[1]+": ")
+}
+
 func TestQueryNameserver_AAAA(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()