Setting up your own DNS server can be a daunting task, but with the right guidance, it can be a rewarding experience. In this tutorial, we will walk you through the steps to set up your very own DNS server on your local machine.
Step 1: Installing the DNS Server Software
The first step in setting up your own DNS server is to install the necessary software. There are several options available, but for this tutorial, we will be using BIND (Berkeley Internet Name Domain), which is one of the most widely used DNS server software.
On Ubuntu or Debian:
Open a terminal and type the following command to install BIND:
sudo apt-get install bind9
On CentOS or Red Hat:
Open a terminal and type the following command to install BIND:
sudo yum install bind
Step 2: Configuring BIND
Once you have installed BIND, you need to configure it to work as your DNS server. The configuration file for BIND is located at /etc/bind/named.conf.options. Open this file in your favorite text editor.
Inside the file, you will find several options that you can modify according to your needs. For example, you can change the default forwarders or specify different zone files.
Forwarders Configuration
To configure forwarders, locate the following section in named.options:
// forwarders {
// 0.0.0;
// };
Remove the comment tags (//) and add IP addresses of your preferred DNS servers like Google Public DNS or OpenDNS:
forwarders {
8.8.8;
8.4.4;
};
Zones Configuration
To configure zones, locate the following section in named.options:
// zone "." {
// type hint;
// file "/etc/bind/db.root";
// };
Remove the comment tags (//) and add your desired zone information. For example:
zone "example.com" {
type master;
file "/etc/bind/db.example.com";
};
Step 3: Creating Zone Files
Now that you have configured BIND, it is time to create the necessary zone files for your DNS server.
Create a new file called db.com in the /etc/bind/ directory. This file will contain the DNS records for your domain.
Open the file in a text editor and add the following content:
$TTL 1d
@ IN SOA ns1.com. admin. (
2020010101 ; Serial
8h ; Refresh
2h ; Retry
4w ; Expire
1d ) ; Minimum
IN NS ns1.
IN NS ns2.
ns1 IN A 192.168.10
ns2 IN A 192.11
www IN A 192.100
mail IN A 192.101
Save the file and exit the text editor.
Step 4: Restarting BIND
Once you have created the zone files, you need to restart BIND for the changes to take effect.
On Ubuntu or Debian, use the following command:
sudo service bind9 restart
On CentOS or Red Hat, use the following command:
sudo service named restart
Step 5: Testing Your DNS Server
To test your DNS server, you can use the nslookup command. Open a terminal and type the following command:
nslookup example.com
If everything is set up correctly, you should see the IP address of your DNS server in the “Server” field and the IP addresses of your domain’s records in the “Address” field.
Congratulations! You have successfully set up your own DNS server. Now you can use it to resolve domain names on your local network.
- Step 1: Installing the DNS Server Software
- Step 2: Configuring BIND
- Forwarders Configuration
- Zones Configuration
- Step 3: Creating Zone Files
- Step 4: Restarting BIND
- Step 5: Testing Your DNS Server
Remember to save any changes made to configuration files and restart BIND for those changes to take effect. With these steps, you now have a functional DNS server running on your local machine. Happy resolving!