title: NSLOOKUP confusion: Where is it getting its information locally?
body: <p>I perform <code>nslookup</code> on a non-local address, say Google. On my machine (running Ubuntu 12.10), I get this as a result:</p>
  
  <pre><code>Server:     127.0.0.1
  Address:    127.0.0.1#53
  
  Non-authoritative answer:
  Name:   www.google.com
  Address: 173.194.37.52
  Name:   www.google.com
  Address: 173.194.37.48
  Name:   www.google.com
  Address: 173.194.37.49
  Name:   www.google.com
  Address: 173.194.37.50
  Name:   www.google.com
  Address: 173.194.37.51
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>I'm trying to understand this. I assume the list of addresses under "Non-authoritative answer" are all of the possible addresses that google.com is using, but why is it listing my local host information at the top? Also, is <code>nslookup</code> querying a local machine, or only the DNS server?</p>
  
  <p>I was looking at <a href="http://www.windowsnetworking.com/articles_tutorials/using-nslookup-dns-server-diagnosis.html" rel="nofollow">this</a> link to explain <code>nslookup</code>, but it's for Windows and I'm not sure that I understand what they're doing there.</p>
  
  <p>I've also consulted the <code>man</code> pages, but those just tell me how to use <code>nslookup</code>, not any of the "theory" behind it. Would somebody mind explaining exactly where <code>nslookup</code> queries, preferably using an example, in order?</p>
  
  <p>I'd appreciate it.</p>