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Reverse DNS (PTR) Lookup

reverse_dns
Read-onlyIdempotent

Resolve a PTR record for an IPv4 or IPv6 address, verify forward-confirmed reverse DNS, and infer the hosting provider. Use it to validate mail-server rDNS or identify a single IP's host.

Instructions

Resolve the PTR (reverse DNS) record for an IPv4 or IPv6 address and verify forward-confirmed reverse DNS (FCrDNS) by checking that the PTR hostname resolves back to the same IP. Infers the hosting provider from PTR naming patterns. Use this to validate mail-server rDNS or identify a single IP's host. Use asn_lookup instead for network/BGP ownership of the IP. Read-only; requires no API key; rate-limited. Returns the PTR hostname, FCrDNS pass/fail, and a provider guess.

Input Schema

TableJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
ipYesIP address to reverse-resolve, IPv4 or IPv6 (e.g., '8.8.8.8' or '2001:4860:4860::8888'). Must be an IP, not a hostname.

Output Schema

TableJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
kpisNoKey metrics as label/value pairs
gradeNoLetter grade (A+ to F) when the tool grades the target
scoreNo0-100 score when the tool scores the target
issuesNoDetected problems, severity-rated
statusYesOverall verdict, e.g. 'good' | 'warning' | 'bad' | 'info' | 'unknown'
actionsNoRecommended next actions, most important first
summaryNoOne-paragraph interpretation of the result
receiptsNoSigned observation receipts behind this result, one per lookup: when, from where and under which rules version DechoNet observed it. Each url shows the record and checks its Ed25519 signature.
reportUrlYesHuman-facing interactive report for this exact lookup on dechonet.com
observationNoHow much was actually observed and when. A partial observation means some checks did not answer: missing parts are not verified, never clean.

Schema Changelog

Changes observed during successful MCP inspections.

  1. Changed2 schema fields changedv1.5.14
    • addedOutput schema / properties / observation
      Added value: +{
      +  "additionalProperties": false,
      +  "description": "How much was actually observed and when. A partial observation means some checks did not answer: missing parts are not verified, never clean.",
      +  "properties": {
      +    "ageMinutes": {
      +      "type": [
      +        "number",
      +        "null"
      +      ]
      +    },
      +    "cached": {
      +      "type": "boolean"
      +    },
      +    "observedAt": {
      +      "type": [
      +        "string",
      +        "null"
      +      ]
      +    },
      +    "state": {
      +      "enum": [
      +        "complete",
      +        "partial",
      +        "unknown"
      +      ],
      +      "type": "string"
      +    }
      +  },
      +  "required": [
      +    "state",
      +    "observedAt",
      +    "cached",
      +    "ageMinutes"
      +  ],
      +  "type": "object"
      +}
    • addedOutput schema / properties / receipts
      Added value: +{
      +  "description": "Signed observation receipts behind this result, one per lookup: when, from where and under which rules version DechoNet observed it. Each url shows the record and checks its Ed25519 signature.",
      +  "items": {
      +    "additionalProperties": false,
      +    "properties": {
      +      "id": {
      +        "type": "string"
      +      },
      +      "tool": {
      +        "type": "string"
      +      },
      +      "url": {
      +        "type": "string"
      +      }
      +    },
      +    "required": [
      +      "tool",
      +      "id",
      +      "url"
      +    ],
      +    "type": "object"
      +  },
      +  "type": "array"
      +}
  2. Changed1 schema field changedv1.1.0
    • changedOutput schema / (root)
      Previous value: -nullNew value: +{
      +  "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#",
      +  "additionalProperties": false,
      +  "properties": {
      +    "actions": {
      +      "description": "Recommended next actions, most important first",
      +      "items": {
      +        "type": "string"
      +      },
      +      "type": "array"
      +    },
      +    "grade": {
      +      "description": "Letter grade (A+ to F) when the tool grades the target",
      +      "type": "string"
      +    },
      +    "issues": {
      +      "description": "Detected problems, severity-rated",
      +      "items": {
      +        "additionalProperties": false,
      +        "properties": {
      +          "key": {
      +            "type": "string"
      +          },
      +          "severity": {
      +            "type": "string"
      +          }
      +        },
      +        "required": [
      +          "severity",
      +          "key"
      +        ],
      +        "type": "object"
      +      },
      +      "type": "array"
      +    },
      +    "kpis": {
      +      "description": "Key metrics as label/value pairs",
      +      "items": {
      +        "additionalProperties": false,
      +        "properties": {
      +          "label": {
      +            "type": "string"
      +          },
      +          "value": {
      +            "type": "string"
      +          }
      +        },
      +        "required": [
      +          "label",
      +          "value"
      +        ],
      +        "type": "object"
      +      },
      +      "type": "array"
      +    },
      +    "reportUrl": {
      +      "description": "Human-facing interactive report for this exact lookup on dechonet.com",
      +      "type": "string"
      +    },
      +    "score": {
      +      "description": "0-100 score when the tool scores the target",
      +      "type": "number"
      +    },
      +    "status": {
      +      "description": "Overall verdict, e.g. 'good' | 'warning' | 'bad' | 'info' | 'unknown'",
      +      "type": "string"
      +    },
      +    "summary": {
      +      "description": "One-paragraph interpretation of the result",
      +      "type": "string"
      +    }
      +  },
      +  "required": [
      +    "status",
      +    "reportUrl"
      +  ],
      +  "type": "object"
      +}
  3. Changed1 schema field changedv1.0.3
    • changedInput schema / properties / ip / description
      Previous value: -"IP address to look up (IPv4 or IPv6)"New value: +"IP address to reverse-resolve, IPv4 or IPv6 (e.g., '8.8.8.8' or '2001:4860:4860::8888'). Must be an IP, not a hostname."
  4. First observedv0.1.0

TDQS

A4.5/5.0
Behavior4/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

Annotations already cover read-only, idempotent, non-destructive and open-world traits, but the description adds genuinely new context: no API key required, rate-limited operation, and the non-obvious FCrDNS verification pass/fail behavior. It does not quantify the rate limit or describe failure modes on an invalid/missing PTR, so it falls short of the richest behavioral disclosure.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

Front-loaded with the core action, then use cases, then the alternative, then behavioral caveats, then return summary — no filler sentences. The return-value sentence is mildly redundant with the output schema but is short and reinforces expectations.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness5/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

For a one-parameter lookup with rich annotations and an output schema, the description covers purpose, routing to the alternative, auth/rate-limit context, and the verification semantics. An agent has everything needed to select and call it correctly without consulting other tools.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters3/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema description coverage is 100% and the single 'ip' parameter is fully documented in the schema (IPv4/IPv6, must be an IP not a hostname). The description restates 'IPv4 or IPv6' but adds no format, syntax, or edge-case meaning beyond the schema, so it sits at the baseline 3.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

States a specific verb+resource (resolve the PTR record) and expands it with the FCrDNS verification step and provider inference, so the full behavior is clear. It explicitly names the sibling asn_lookup as the wrong tool for network/BGP ownership, letting an agent distinguish it without opening either schema.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines5/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

Gives concrete use cases ('validate mail-server rDNS', 'identify a single IP's host') and an explicit alternative with its selecting condition ('Use asn_lookup instead for network/BGP ownership'). No usage decision is left to inference.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.