Can the DBL be used to look up IP addresses?
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Can the DBL be used to look up IP addresses?
The DBL cannot be used to look IP addresses. The DBL is a domain-only blocklist and does not include or support IP addresses.
- It only includes domain names in the form of text strings.
- It should not be used the same way as the Spamhaus IP-based DNSBLs.
- An IP query against the DBL always returns a positive (listed) return code.
- If legitimate emails containing http links specified as IP addresses (e.g. “http://1.1.1.1”), are expected to be delivered, wrongly using DBL this way will reject them.
“dbl.spamhaus.org” must not be configured in any email server’s “DNSBL” or “RBLs” feature, spam firewall, or spam filter unless it specifically states that blocklists entered there are used for domain checking only. If this is unclear, please refer to the spam filter developer.
Spamhaus DNS returns the code 127.0.1.255 to IP queries to the DBL zone, along with a TXT record referring to this FAQ page.
If an IP lookup DNSBL is required, Spamhaus Zen is a good choice. More information can be found on the DNSBL FAQ page.
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