DNS 5 REFUSED vs 16 BADVERS/BADSIG
Both DNS 5 (REFUSED) and 16 (BADVERS/BADSIG) belong to the DNS Response Codes (RCODEs) category. 5 indicates that query refused. The name server refuses to perform the requested operation for policy reasons. Meanwhile, 16 means that bad OPT Version or TSIG Signature Failure. Either the EDNS version in the OPT record is not supported, or the TSIG signature on the message failed verification.
Description
Query refused. The name server refuses to perform the requested operation for policy reasons.
When You See It
The server rejected your query due to access control — for example, a recursive resolver that only serves its own network, or a zone transfer blocked by ACL.
How to Fix
Check the server's allow-query, allow-recursion, or allow-transfer ACLs. If you are not authorized to use this resolver, switch to a public DNS service.
Description
Bad OPT Version or TSIG Signature Failure. Either the EDNS version in the OPT record is not supported, or the TSIG signature on the message failed verification.
When You See It
As BADVERS: your client sent an EDNS version higher than the server supports. As BADSIG: the TSIG MAC on the message did not match, indicating a shared-secret mismatch or message tampering.
How to Fix
For BADVERS, downgrade the EDNS version (most servers support version 0 only). For BADSIG, regenerate and re-synchronize the TSIG shared secret on both endpoints.
Key Differences
DNS 5: Query refused. The name server refuses to perform the requested operation for policy reasons.
DNS 16: Bad OPT Version or TSIG Signature Failure. Either the EDNS version in the OPT record is not supported, or the TSIG signature on the message failed verification.
You encounter 5 when the server rejected your query due to access control — for example, a recursive resolver that only serves its own network, or a zone transfer blocked by ACL.
You encounter 16 when as BADVERS: your client sent an EDNS version higher than the server supports. As BADSIG: the TSIG MAC on the message did not match, indicating a shared-secret mismatch or message tampering.
When to Use Which
For 5 (REFUSED): Check the server's allow-query, allow-recursion, or allow-transfer ACLs. If you are not authorized to use this resolver, switch to a public DNS service. For 16 (BADVERS/BADSIG): For BADVERS, downgrade the EDNS version (most servers support version 0 only). For BADSIG, regenerate and re-synchronize the TSIG shared secret on both endpoints.