Configuring a Caching Nameserver ?
 

Hi,
I have configured Master and Slave DNS server in Red Hat Linux 4 Enterprise. I want to know about what is a Caching Nameserver and in which situation we use it? If there is a master and slave DNS server we can use cache name server as well ?
About its configuration please guide me also please.

thanks
garden

Hi,

A caching dns in general, is just used to answer queries. The 1st time it's asked for a domain it looks for the answer and then it caches it, so next time it responds from its cache speeding things up. You can read more here
If you are running a name server authoritative for some domains, you can also use it as a caching dns by adding the hint zone (see link above) and use it as a resolver (put its IP in /etc/resolv.conf)

Regards

Caching-only name servers are servers not authoritative for any domains except 0.0.127.in-addr.arpa, the localhost. A caching-only name server can look up names inside and outside your zone, as can primary and slave name servers. The difference is that when a caching-only name server initially looks up a name within your zone, it ends up asking one of the primary or slave names servers for your zone for the answer.

thanks for the replies...so how can i make caching only server .its configuration ? please guide me.

You can use a named.conf with the snippet in the link I've posted above.
Or from the same link click on "Example configuration files for a caching DNS are provided" to find a more extensive example

Regards

To configure the /etc/named.conf file for a simple caching name server, use this for all servers that dont act as a master or slave name server. Setting up a simple caching server for local client machines will reduce the load on the network's primary server. Many users on dialup connections may use this configuration along with bind for such a purpose. Create the named.conf file, touch /etc/named.conf and add the following lines to the file:

In the forwarders line,210.165.187.10 and 210.165.187.11 are the IP addresses of your Primary Master and Secondary Slave DNS server. They can also be the IP addresses of your ISPs DNS server and another DNS server, respectively.

thanks for the help.

Hi,

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