Do you need to configure a new zone file altogether in bind for reverse lookups? I mean, for in-addr.arpa.? Or can you configure it within the same zone file where you have forward (normal) lookups?

New zone file.

Zone files are authoritative for the zone they reference. A forward zone file wouldn't be authoritative for arpa reverse lookups.

That is to say you can have multiple forward zones use a single zone file by doing creative use of the @ but arpa reverse lookups are a special breed.

Also reverse lookups require you to have the IP range that was assigned to you to be delegated to you by whoever provides them to you. For forward lookups you tell your Registrar to point to your BIND servers for any domains you registered. Similarly you have to tell your ISP or other IP provider to point to those same BIND servers if you want to be authoritative for reverse lookups.

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