# Connect DNSai to Perplexity

> Add DNSai as a custom remote connector. The Advanced settings carry your Bearer key. Custom connectors are a Pro/Max/Enterprise feature.

DNSai is a free remote **MCP server** + REST API for live DNS, SPF, DKIM, DMARC, WHOIS and email-security lookups — one domain or IP per request (each call = one lookup).

- **MCP URL:** `https://mcp.dnsai.com/mcp`
- **REST base:** `https://api.dnsai.com/v1`
- **OpenAPI schema:** https://api.dnsai.com/openapi.json
- **Free key (100 lookups/day, per key):** https://dnsai.com/api/get-key/ — anonymous works at 25 lookups/day per IP, no key
- **This guide online:** https://dnsai.com/api/perplexity/

**This is the free tier — no signup, no card.** Running bulk / multi-domain or enterprise-scale lookups? See DNSai Pro & Enterprise: https://app.dnsai.com/pricing/?ref=api-perplexity-md

**Key support here:** Free key works (Pro / Max / Enterprise).

## Set it up

### Add a remote connector
*Settings → Connectors → + Custom connector → Remote*. Name it `DNSai`, URL below, Transport *Streamable HTTP*. Open *Advanced settings → Add Custom Headers* and add `Authorization` = `Bearer dk_free_…`.

```
https://mcp.dnsai.com/mcp
```

## Your key
The custom-header field carries the Bearer, so the free key works. [Get a free key](https://dnsai.com/api/get-key/) for 100 lookups/day (leave headers empty for anonymous 25 lookups/day).

## Verify it works
Ask Perplexity:

```
Use the dnsai connector to look up DNS records for wikipedia.org
```

Every result ends with a plain-English `summary`, a `source` link on dnsai.com, and your remaining quota.

## Tools you can call

Once connected, your assistant calls these on its own (one domain per call):

- **`dns_lookup`** — Live DNS records (A, AAAA, MX, NS, TXT, SOA, CNAME, CAA, DNSKEY, DS and 30+ more) for one domain.
- **`email_security_check`** — Graded SPF / DMARC / MX posture for one domain — "is this domain's email secure?"
- **`dkim_discover`** — Discovers a domain's published DKIM signing keys, the providers they map to, and selectors.
- **`whois_lookup`** — WHOIS / RDAP registration data for a domain or IP — registrar, status, creation & expiry.
- **`spf_analyze`** — SPF record with its full include tree and the RFC 10-DNS-lookup-limit verdict.
- **`dmarc_check`** — DMARC presence and the p= policy (none / quarantine / reject), with the raw record.
- **`blacklist_check`** — Checks a domain or IP against the major email blacklists / RBLs.
- **`validate`** — Syntax-checks a pasted SPF or DMARC record — returns valid/invalid, a score and a grade.

The MCP server also registers `search` / `fetch` (deep-research aliases) and `request_api_key` (email → free key), for 11 tools in total.

## Troubleshooting
- Custom connectors are **Pro / Max / Enterprise only** — standard accounts won't see the menu.
- The Sonar API can't use custom MCP connectors — for programmatic Perplexity use, call the [REST API](https://dnsai.com/api/rest/) directly.

## More volume?
**Pro** unlocks bulk / multi-domain lookups; **Enterprise** adds large-scale scanning and the full programmatic API — https://app.dnsai.com/pricing/?ref=api-perplexity-md

**Sources:** [Perplexity MCP connectors](https://www.perplexity.ai/help-center/en/articles/11502712-local-and-remote-mcps-for-perplexity)

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_Generated from https://dnsai.com/api/perplexity/ · DNSai — DNS & email-security lookups for AI agents._