The Domain Name System (DNS) is a crucial component of the internet infrastructure. It maintains a database that translates domain names to IP addresses, allowing users’ computers to access websites by their names instead of their numerical IP addresses. The DNS on CentOS is based on the ‘named’ daemon, which is built on the BIND package developed by the Internet Software Consortium.
In this guide, we will walk you through the process of installing the Bind Chroot DNS server on a Linux CentOS 5.7 server. This tutorial is also applicable to other CentOS versions such as 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, and 5.6.
Part 1: Installing Bind Chroot DNS Server on Linux CentOS 5.7 Server
The first step in setting up a Bind Chroot DNS server on a Linux CentOS 5.7 server is to install the necessary packages. This can be done using the ‘yum’ package manager, which is included by default in CentOS.
[root@CentOS57 ~]# yum install bind-chroot -y
This command will install the ‘bind-chroot’ package and all its dependencies. The ‘-y’ flag is used to automatically answer ‘yes’ to any prompts that may appear during the installation process.
Example:
[root@CentOS57 ~]# yum install bind-chroot -y Loaded plugins: fastestmirror Loading mirror speeds from cached hostfile * base: mirror.oscc.org.my * extras: mirror.oscc.org.my * rpmforge: ftp-stud.fht-esslingen.de * updates: mirror.oscc.org.my Setting up Install Process Resolving Dependencies --> Running transaction check ---> Package bind-chroot.i386 30:9.3.6-20.P1.el5 set to be updated --> Processing Dependency: bind = 30:9.3.6-20.P1.el5 for package: bind-chroot --> Running transaction check ---> Package bind.i386 30:9.3.6-20.P1.el5 set to be updated --> Processing Dependency: bind-libs = 30:9.3.6-20.P1.el5 for package: bind --> Running transaction check --> Processing Dependency: bind-libs = 30:9.3.6-16.P1.el5_7.1 for package: bind-utils ---> Package bind-libs.i386 30:9.3.6-20.P1.el5 set to be updated --> Running transaction check ---> Package bind-utils.i386 30:9.3.6-20.P1.el5 set to be updated --> Finished Dependency Resolution Dependencies Resolved ==================================================================================================== Package Arch Version Repository Size ==================================================================================================== Installing: bind-chroot i386 30:9.3.6-20.P1.el5 base 47 k Installing for dependencies: bind i386 30:9.3.6-20.P1.el5 base 981 k Updating for dependencies: bind-libs i386 30:9.3.6-20.P1.el5 base 863 k bind-utils i386 30:9.3.6-20.P1.el5 base 174 k Transaction Summary ==================================================================================================== Install 2 Package(s) Upgrade 2 Package(s) Total download size: 2.0 M Downloading Packages: (1/4): bind-chroot-9.3.6-20.P1.el5.i386.rpm | 47 kB 00:00 (2/4): bind-utils-9.3.6-20.P1.el5.i386.rpm | 174 kB 00:01 (3/4): bind-libs-9.3.6-20.P1.el5.i386.rpm | 863 kB 00:07 (4/4): bind-9.3.6-20.P1.el5.i386.rpm | 981 kB 00:08 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total 111 kB/s | 2.0 MB 00:18 Running rpm_check_debug Running Transaction Test Finished Transaction Test Transaction Test Succeeded Running Transaction Updating : bind-libs 1/6 Installing : bind 2/6 Installing : bind-chroot 3/6 Updating : bind-utils 4/6 Cleanup : bind-libs 5/6 Cleanup : bind-utils 6/6 Installed: bind-chroot.i386 30:9.3.6-20.P1.el5 Dependency Installed: bind.i386 30:9.3.6-20.P1.el5 Dependency Updated: bind-libs.i386 30:9.3.6-20.P1.el5 bind-utils.i386 30:9.3.6-20.P1.el5 Complete!
Part 2: Checking the DNS named service
After the installation is complete, you can check the status of the ‘named’ service using the following command:
[root@CentOS57 ~]# service named status
If the ‘named’ service is not running, you will see a message like this:
rndc: connect failed: 127.0.0.1#953: connection refused named is stopped
This means that the ‘named’ service is not currently running. Before you can start it, you must first configure the Bind Chroot DNS server.
Part 3: Configuring the Bind Chroot DNS Server
Configuring the Bind Chroot DNS server involves setting up the necessary configuration files and directories. This process will vary depending on your specific needs and the configuration of your server.
We have a bunch of tutorials on that as well.
It’s important to note that the Bind Chroot DNS server operates in a chroot environment for added security. This means that it has its own isolated file system and cannot access files outside of its designated directory.
Once you have configured the Bind Chroot DNS server, you can start the ‘named’ service using the following command:
[root@CentOS57 ~]# service named start
If the service starts successfully, you should see a message like this:
Starting named: [ OK ]
This indicates that the ‘named’ service is now running and your Bind Chroot DNS server is ready to use.
Conclusion
Setting up a Bind Chroot DNS server on a Linux CentOS 5.7 server involves installing the necessary packages, checking the status of the ‘named’ service, and configuring the server. This process provides you with a secure and efficient way to manage DNS records on your own server, giving you more control over your network configurations.
Remember, the Bind Chroot DNS server operates in a chroot environment, which means it has its own isolated file system and cannot access files outside of its designated directory. This adds an extra layer of security to your DNS server.
By following the above steps, you should now have a functional Bind Chroot DNS server on your CentOS 5.7 server. However, remember that this is just the beginning. There’s a lot more to learn about managing a DNS server, and we encourage you to continue exploring and experimenting.
For more in-depth tutorials and guides on web servers and hosting, don’t forget to check out our articles on Apache, Nginx, LiteSpeed, dedicated server, VPS server, cloud hosting, and shared hosting.
FAQs
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What is a Bind Chroot DNS server?
A Bind Chroot DNS server is a DNS server that uses the Bind software and operates in a chroot environment. This means it has its own isolated file system for added security, preventing it from accessing files outside of its designated directory.
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Why would I need to install a Bind Chroot DNS server?
Installing a Bind Chroot DNS server can be beneficial for managing DNS records on your own server, giving you more control over your network configurations. It’s also a more secure option due to the isolated chroot environment.
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What is the ‘named’ service in CentOS?
The ‘named’ service in CentOS is the daemon that runs the DNS server. It’s part of the Bind package and is responsible for translating domain names to IP addresses.
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What does the ‘yum install bind-chroot -y’ command do?
The ‘yum install bind-chroot -y’ command installs the ‘bind-chroot’ package and all its dependencies on a CentOS server. The ‘-y’ flag automatically answers ‘yes’ to any prompts during the installation process.
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How can I check if the ‘named’ service is running?
You can check if the ‘named’ service is running by using the ‘service named status’ command. If the service isrunning, you will see a message indicating its status. If it’s not running, you’ll receive a message saying ‘named is stopped’ or a connection refused message.
Commands Mentioned
- yum install bind-chroot -y – This command installs the Bind Chroot DNS server and all its dependencies on a CentOS server.
- service named status – This command checks the status of the ‘named’ service, which runs the DNS server.
- service named start – This command starts the ‘named’ service, effectively starting the DNS server.
