What’s the fun in having a fully functioning API if you can’t play around with it, right? Sometimes data is needed in different forms to serve a specific purpose. APIs are great when the existing interface and available functions are not enough. Getting data straight to spreadsheets is great for custom reports and graphics. So, let’s learn how to do this.

Today we are going to focus on XML and export data with the HTTP API. Before we start, let me remind you that if you want to replicate and build upon any of what I’m writing below, you will need to register for any of our services – paid, trial or free. They will all give you access to our API and what you have in your account.

What is the main purpose of a name server? It stores the DNS records for a given domain name and translates (resolves) domain names and hostnames into their corresponding IP addresses.

But what if you want to make sure that the domain name you have chosen for your website points to the correct IP? It is all very simple, run a simple and free hostname test. Within just three clicks you can check whether any given domain name is directed to its appropriate IP. If you want to see this test in action, check out the video below or try it out for yourself in our test tools section.

The traceroute test is one of the most powerful tools you can ever use. In short, it shows the route and transit times of ICMP packets across a network from one destination to another. It can be used to get information about the network infrastructure and IP ranges around a given host or it can help you identify firewalls that may be blocking ICMP traffic. In case of connection issues this is the tool with which you can pinpoint exactly where the problems occur. To see this test in action, check out the video below.

Do you know which component of your web page takes the longest to load?

If not, our Web Page Test tool can help you find out. With this test our monitoring agent shows how long it takes to download the complete HTML content, the images and all the other internal web page objects. Of course, it also measures the download speed of each of the components. The test results show the DNS time, connect time, first and last byte times for each of the web page objects.

If you are searching for a suitable ISP for your business, it is a good idea to check if your IP address (or others hosted by this ISP) is listed on a DNS-based Blackhole list (DNSBL). The reason why you should do that is simple - if your ISP has given you an IP address which is listed, their mail server may also be on a blacklist and you may find yourself unable to reach your clients via e-mail. A simple test with our Test Tools will let you know if the domain name/IP address that you are testing is blacklisted. We query the major DNS Blacklists – Sorbs, Spamhaus, NJABL, DSBL, CBL and PSBL for specific IP address and return whether it is listed for sending spam, as an open proxy relay or for other possibly malicious activities. Check out the video below to see how this test works or give it a try now.