Categories: cPanelSecurity

Caching Name Server for CentOS 6.x

A caching only DNS server caches DNS query results for the domain name being queried. These chache are stored for pre specified time known as the TTL. A caching only name server will find the answer to name queries and remember the answer the next time you need it. This will shorten the waiting time the next time significantly, especially if you’re on a slow connection.

Step 1: Install the BIND Packages using Yum

Install bind packages using below command. In CentOS the caching-nameserver package has been included with bind package.

# yum install bind bind-chroot

Step 2: Copy default bind configuration File

Copy bind configuration file from bind sample files using below command. Change the path of files as per version you have installed.

cd /var/named/chroot/etc
cp /usr/share/doc/bind-9.9.2/sample/etc/named.conf  .
cp /usr/share/doc/bind-9.9.2/sample/etc/named.rfc1912.zones  .

Step 3: Make changes in Configuration File

Edit bind configuration file in your favorite editor and make necessory changes as per below settings or use below configuration.

// /var/named/chroot/etc/named.conf
options {
        listen-on port 53 { 127.0.0.1; any; };
        listen-on-v6 port 53 { ::1; };
        directory       "/var/named";
        dump-file       "/var/named/data/cache_dump.db";
        statistics-file "/var/named/data/named_stats.txt";
        memstatistics-file "/var/named/data/named_mem_stats.txt";
        allow-query     { localhost; any; };
        allow-query-cache    { localhost; any; };
        recursion yes;

        dnssec-enable yes;
        dnssec-validation yes;
        dnssec-lookaside auto;

        /* Path to ISC DLV key */        bindkeys-file "/etc/named.iscdlv.key";

        managed-keys-directory "/var/named/dynamic";
};

logging {
        channel default_debug {
                file "data/named.run";
                severity dynamic;
        };
};

include "/etc/named.rfc1912.zones";

Update permissions on configuration files.

# chown root:named named.conf named.rfc1912.zones

Step 4: Check Configuration File

We recommend to check dns configuration file before restarting service.

# named-checkconf named.conf

Step 5: Restart Bind Service

Start Bind (named) service using below command.

# service named restart

Enable auto start bind service on system boot.

# chkconfig named on

Step 6: Finally test Caching Only DNS Setup

Send query to your dns server directly using below command.
Syntax: nslookup

# nslookup Hostripples.com 192.168.1.1

Sample Output:

Server:         192.168.1.1
Address:        192.168.1.1#53

Non-authoritative answer:
Name:   hostripples.com
Address: 198.27.89.220
Name:   hostripples.com
Address: 198.27.89.220

That’s it – your caching server is ready to go.