dns server doesn't know itself (NT BIND v 4.9.5)

[Jim Reid]

>>>>> "Steve" == Steve Hammill <shammill at earthlink.net> writes:

    Steve> Here's the NSLOOKUP error message:
    Steve> *** can't find server name for 10.1.1.254: non-existent domain
    Steve> *** can't find server name for 10.1.1.254: non-existent domain
    Steve> server: unknown
    Steve> address:10.1.1.254

    Steve> ping by name works...
    Steve> nslookup works once I issue the server command...

Looks like you have a version of nslookup that likes to make obsolete
inverse queries - not the same thing as a reverse lookup! - and your
name server doesn't support these. Try getting a better version of
nslookup. Better still, throw nslookup in the bin and use host or dig
for sending DNS queries and general troubleshooting.