This chapter assumes that you have a basic understanding of BIND and DNS; it does not attempt to explain the concepts of BIND and DNS. This chapter does explain how to use the Red Hat Bind Configuration Tool (redhat-config-bind) to configure basic BIND server zones. The Red Hat Bind Configuration Tool creates the /etc/named.conf configuration file and the zone configuration files in the /var/named directory each time you apply your changes.
![]() | Important |
---|---|
Do not edit the /etc/named.conf configuration file. Red Hat Bind Configuration Tool generates this file after you apply your changes. If you want to configure settings that are not configurable using Red Hat Bind Configuration Tool, add them to /etc/named.custom. |
The Red Hat Bind Configuration Tool requires the X Window System and root access. To start the Red Hat Bind Configuration Tool, go to the Main Menu Button (on the Panel) => Server Settings => Domain Name Service or type the command redhat-config-bind at a shell prompt (for example, in an XTerm or GNOME-terminal).
The Red Hat Bind Configuration Tool configures the default zone directory to be /var/named. All zone files specified are relative to this directory. The Red Hat Bind Configuration Tool also includes basic syntax checking when values are entered. For example, if a valid entry is an IP address, you are only allowed to type numbers and the dot (.) character into the text area.
The Red Hat Bind Configuration Tool allows you to add a forward master zone, a reverse master zone, and a slave zone. After adding the zones, you can edit or delete them from the main window as shown in Figure 1-1.
After adding, editing, or deleting a zone, you must choose File => Apply to write the /etc/named.conf configuration file and all the individual zone files in the /var/named directory. Applying your changes will also cause the named service reload the configuration files. You can also choose File => Quit and click Save and quit.