avahi-resolve-host-name

View documentation for the original command

$ tldr avahi-resolve

avahi-resolve-host-name [-4|-6] [-v] [-h|-V] HOSTNAME [HOSTNAME ...]

-h, --help
    Show help and exit

-V, --version
    Print version info

-v, --verbose
    Increase verbosity

-4
    Resolve IPv4 addresses only

-6
    Resolve IPv6 addresses only

avahi-resolve-host-name is a command-line tool from the Avahi suite for Linux/Unix systems implementing multicast DNS (mDNS) and DNS-SD (Zeroconf/Bonjour). It queries the Avahi daemon to resolve hostnames—typically .local domains—to their IPv4 and/or IPv6 addresses on the local network.

Ideal for discovering devices like printers, servers, or IoT gadgets advertising via mDNS without central DNS. Run it standalone; output format is IP_ADDRESS HOSTNAME per line. Supports multiple hostnames and selective address families (IPv4/IPv6). Verbose mode aids debugging timeouts or cache issues.

Common in desktop environments (GNOME, KDE) and embedded systems. Requires avahi-daemon service active. Enhances local networking by bypassing /etc/hosts or routers' DNS.

Requires running avahi-daemon; fails silently on non-mDNS names; no wildcard support beyond basics; IPv6 may need network config.

myhost.local
192.168.1.100 myhost.local
fe80::1234 myhost.local

Combine with -4 for IPv4-only; pipe to grep/.local for filtering; timeout ~1s per query.

Introduced in Avahi 0.6 (2005) by Lennart Poettering; evolved with mDNS standards (RFC 6762); standard in most distros since ~2007 for Zeroconf.

avahi-resolve-address(1), avahi-browse(1), avahi-publish-host-name(1), host(1), dig(1)