How to figure out a site's web host

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How to figure out a site's web host

can this be done with a who-is?

geoapa

8:16 pm on Jun 30, 2004 (gmt 0)

I know sometimes the DNS is the actual hosting company of a web site but a lot of times it can just be the Start of Authority (SOA).

Is there a sure way to determine a web site's host?

robotsdobetter

8:28 pm on Jun 30, 2004 (gmt 0)

I check (Only works if they don't have their own ip) the IP of the web site. Also sometimes a web host leaves extra HTML and if they do they usually leave a commet tag with it saying there company name.

geoapa

8:51 pm on Jun 30, 2004 (gmt 0)

Isn't that the same thing? The IP is the SOA, not really the web host.

hasbeen

8:58 pm on Jun 30, 2004 (gmt 0)

I check (Only works if they don't have their own ip) the IP of the web site.

Checking the IP is a good way, to a certain extent. If the host is colocated and using IPs assigned by the datacenter, then you can find out "where" the site is hosted, but not necessarily "who" hosts the site. You could check DNS, but the hosted site may use their own nameservers and not those of the host.

Not quite sure why you think checking the IP only works if they don't have their own. We give out static IPs to all hosting accounts, so you can certainly find out if we host a site by checking the IP (as we own the IPs as well).

If all else fails, why not just contact the site:

"Hi, I was found your site on [insert search engine here] and was impressed with how fast it is. Where is it hosted, because my site seems to be really slow in comparison..."

geoapa

9:15 pm on Jun 30, 2004 (gmt 0)

If all else fails, why not just contact the site:
"Hi, I was found your site on [insert search engine here] and was impressed with how fast it is. Where is it hosted, because my site seems to be really slow in comparison..."

I did that.
They don't know their web host as they purchased it a while ago.

bsterz

9:19 pm on Jun 30, 2004 (gmt 0)

I'm probably stating the obvious here, but what about shooting an email to the technical contact listed in the whois record?

There is a site called dnsstuff that has a lot of great tools for this sort of thing.

Bill

hasbeen

9:23 pm on Jun 30, 2004 (gmt 0)

Interesting.

DNSStuff is good, as is samspade.

If you get the nameservers, you may also want to try webhosting (info extension) and/or hostcount for more info on the owners of the nameservers (if they're listed).

Good luck.