NAME

named.boot − named configuration file

SYNOPSIS

/etc/named.boot

DESCRIPTION

This file is the default configuration (or boot) file for the named server. 

The named daemon reads the start-up file when the named daemon starts and when receiving signal SIGHUP. 

The records in the named.boot file tell the named daemon what type of server it is, which domains (or zones of authority) it has authority over, and where to get the data for initially setting up its database. 

The name server first needs to know the root name server, which is the authority server for the network. The root name server is established in the named.boot file by specifying the root server filename (named.ca) as the cache for this name server. 

The general format of each line in this file is as follows:

Type Domain Source

TypeDetermines the type of information required for the database.  The Type field can have one of the following values:

domainIndicates that the following Domain entry is the name of the default domain.  When the named daemon receives a query with a domain or hostname that does not end with a . (dot), the named daemon appends the default domain name to the queried name. 

primaryIndicates that the local named server is the primary name server for the domain specified in the Domain field and that the named daemon is to get the data describing the domain from the file specified in the Source field. 

secondaryIndicates that the local named server is a secondary name server for the domain specified in the Domain field and that the named daemon is to get the data describing the domain from one or more remote primary name servers using the Internet address or addresses specified in the Source field.  The named daemon tries each address in the order listed until it successfully receives the data from one of the name servers. 

cacheIndicates that the local named server is a caching name server for the domain specified in the Domain field and that the named daemon is to get the data describing the domain from the file specified in the Source field. 

See named(8) for additional named.boot file directives. 

DomainSpecifies the domain. 

SourceSpecifies a file containing information that describes the domain. 

Note that the named daemon does not provide other hosts with the information contained in a cache file. Cache files are usually used for listing the name servers for domains higher than the local domain. 

Comments in the boot file begin with a ; (semicolon) and end at the end of the line. 

These data files can have any name. However, for convenience in maintaining the named database, they are generally given names in the following form: /etc/named.extension.  The general format of named data files is described in /etc/named.∗. 

EXAMPLES

The following examples show the various ways to use the named start-up file. 

     1.The /etc/named.boot file for venus, a primary name server, contains these entries:

; Boot file for primary name server
;
; type        domain                  source file or host
domain        abc.aus.osf.com
cache         .                        /etc/named.ca
primary       abc.aus.osf.com           /etc/named.abcdata
primary       xyz.aus.osf.com           /etc/named.xyzdata
primary       201.9.192.in-addr.arpa    /etc/named.abcrev
primary       100.114.128.in-addr.arpa  /etc/named.xyzrev
primary       0.0.127.in-addr.arpa      /etc/named.local

In this example, the primary name server is venus and the Internet address is 192.9.201.1. 

     2.The /etc/named.boot file for kronos, a secondary name server, contains these entries:

; Boot file for secondary name server
;
; type        domain                  source file or host
domain        abc.aus.osf.com
cache         .                       /etc/named.ca
secondary     abc.aus.osf.com          192.9.201.1 192.9.201.2
secondary     xyz.aus.osf.com          192.9.201.1 192.9.201.2
secondary     201.9.192.in-addr.arpa   192.9.201.1 192.9.201.2
secondary     100.114.128.in-addr.arpa 192.9.201.1 192.9.201.2
primary       0.0.127.in-addr.arpa     /etc/named.local

In this example the secondary name server is kronos and the Internet address is 192.9.201.2. 

     3.The /etc/named.boot file for hera, a cache-only name server, contains these entries:

; Boot file for cache only server
;
; type        domain                  source file or host
domain        abc.aus.osf.com
cache         .                      /etc/named.ca
primary       0.0.127.in-addr.arpa    /etc/named.local

RELATED INFORMATION

Commands: named(8)

Files: named.∗(4)