named

DNS server daemon from BIND

TLDR

Start DNS server with default configuration

$ named

Use a custom configuration file

$ named -c [path/to/named.conf]

Use IPv4 only

$ named -4

Use IPv6 only

$ named -6

Listen on a specific port instead of 53

$ named -p [port]

Run in foreground (don't daemonize)

$ named -f

SYNOPSIS

named [-4|-6] [-c config-file] [-p port] [-f] [-g] [-u user]

named is the DNS (Domain Name System) server daemon from BIND (Berkeley Internet Name Domain). It resolves domain names to IP addresses and vice versa, serving DNS queries from clients.The server reads zone files and configuration from /etc/named.conf by default. It can act as an authoritative server for domains, a recursive resolver, or both. The daemon typically runs as a system service managed by systemd.

PARAMETERS

-4

Use IPv4 only, even if IPv6 is available

-6

Use IPv6 only, even if IPv4 is available

-c _config-file_

Use specified configuration file instead of /etc/named.conf

-p _port_

Listen on specified port instead of default 53

-f

Run in foreground; do not daemonize

-g

Run in foreground with logging to stderr

-u _user_

Run as specified user after binding to privileged ports

-t _directory_

Chroot to specified directory after startup

-n _cpus_

Number of CPUs to use for worker threads

-d _debug-level_

Set debug level (higher = more verbose)

INSTALL

sudo apt install bind9

sudo dnf install bind

sudo pacman -S bind

sudo apk add bind

sudo zypper install bind

brew install bind

nix profile install nixpkgs#bind

CAVEATS

Requires root privileges to bind to port 53. Should run as unprivileged user (-u) after startup for security. Misconfigured DNS servers can be exploited for amplification attacks. Zone file syntax errors prevent startup.

HISTORY

BIND (Berkeley Internet Name Domain) was originally developed at UC Berkeley in the early 1980s. It is the most widely used DNS server software on the Internet. The Internet Systems Consortium (ISC) currently maintains BIND.