How to Install and Configure Bind DNS Server on Arch Linux

Bind is a widely-used DNS server software that is known for its performance, security, and flexibility. In this tutorial, we’ll guide you through the process of how to install and configure Bind DNS server on Arch Linux. We’ll cover the installation steps, basic configuration, and how to set up a simple DNS zone.

Prerequisites

Before starting, ensure you have the following:

• An Arch Linux system with root or sudo access
• A basic understanding of DNS concepts
• A domain name for which you want to set up DNS records

How to Install and Configure Bind DNS Server on Arch Linux

Update Your System

First, update your system to ensure you have the latest packages installed:

sudo pacman -Syu

Install Bind DNS Server on Arch Linux

Now, install the Bind package using the following command:

sudo pacman -S bind

Configure Bind DNS Server on Arch Linux

After the installation is complete, it’s time to configure Bind. Begin by copying the sample configuration file:

sudo cp /etc/named.conf /etc/named.conf.backup

Next, open the /etc/named.conf file using your preferred text editor:

sudo vim /etc/named.conf

Make the following changes to the configuration file:

1. Change the listen-on directive to your server’s IP address, or use any to listen on all available interfaces:arduino

listen-on { any; };

Update the allow-query directive to allow DNS queries from any IP address:

allow-query { any; };

Uncomment the forwarders directive and add a public DNS server, such as Google’s 8.8.8.8:

1. forwarders { 8.8.8.8; };

Save and exit the configuration file.

Create a DNS Zone on Bind DNS Server

In this step, we’ll create a simple DNS zone for your domain. First, create a new zone file in the /var/named directory:

sudo vim /var/named/example.com.zone

Replace example.com with your domain name. Add the following contents to the zone file, replacing example.com with your domain and x.x.x.x with your server’s IP address:

$TTL 86400
@       IN      SOA     ns1.example.com. admin.example.com. (
                              1        ; Serial
                         3600       ; Refresh
                         1800       ; Retry
                        604800     ; Expire
                         86400 )    ; Minimum TTL
; Name Servers
example.com.   IN      NS      ns1.example.com.

; A Records
example.com.   IN      A       x.x.x.x
ns1            IN      A       x.x.x.x

Next, add your new zone to the Bind configuration by editing /etc/named.conf:

sudo vim /etc/named.conf

Add the following lines at the end of the file:

zone "example.com" IN {
        type master;
        file "/var/named/example.com.zone";
};

Replace example.com with your domain name. Save and exit the configuration file.

Start and Enable Bind Service on Linux

Start the Bind service and enable it to start automatically at boot:

sudo systemctl start named
sudo systemctl enable named

Test Your DNS Server

To test your newly configured DNS server, use the dig command:

dig @localhost example.com

This command will query your DNS server for the example.com domain. If everything is configured correctly, you should see an output similar to the following:

; <<>> DiG 9.x.x <<>> @localhost example.com
; (1 server found)
;; global options: +cmd
;; Got answer:
;; ->>HEADER<<- opcode: QUERY, status: NOERROR, id: 12345
;; flags: qr aa rd ra; QUERY: 1, ANSWER: 1, AUTHORITY: 1, ADDITIONAL: 1

;; QUESTION SECTION:
;example.com.			IN	A

;; ANSWER SECTION:
example.com.		86400	IN	A	192.0.2.1

;; AUTHORITY SECTION:
example.com.		86400	IN	NS	ns1.example.com.

;; ADDITIONAL SECTION:
ns1.example.com.	86400	IN	A	192.0.2.2

;; Query time: 0 msec
;; SERVER: 127.0.0.1#53(127.0.0.1)
;; WHEN: Mon Jan 1 00:00:00 2023
;; MSG SIZE  rcvd: 76

If you see the status: NOERROR line and the correct IP address in the ANSWER SECTION, congratulations! Your Bind DNS server is working correctly.

Conclusion

In this guide, you learned how to install and configure the Bind DNS server on Arch Linux. With your new DNS server up and running, you’re well on your way to taking control of your network infrastructure. Don’t forget to explore other powerful tools for managing your Arch Linux system, such as Ansible, KVM virtualization, and PowerDNS.

Note: The content of this blog post is for educational and informational purposes only. While every caution has been taken to provide accurate and up-to-date information, the author and publisher assume no responsibility for errors or omissions, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. The reader is responsible for ensuring the accuracy and suitability of the information for their own use.