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Labs

DNS and BIND: Create a Forward Zone File

Zone files are a key component of configuring DNS servers. In this lab we will configure a forward zone file, and add TTL, SOA, NS and A records. This allows a name server to resolve a query, given the hostname, and returns the IP address. This is the most common type of DNS query.

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Lab platform
Lab Info
Level
Intermediate
Last updated
Aug 07, 2025
Duration
15m

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Table of Contents
  1. Challenge

    Install and Start the Named Service, then Create the File /var/named/fwd.labdomain.com.db
    yum install -y bind
    systemctl start named
    vim /var/named/fwd.labdomain.com.db
    
  2. Challenge

    Add the TTL and SOA Records to the Zone File
    
    $TTL 86400  
    
    @       IN      SOA     nameserver.labdomain.com.     root.labdomain.com.      (
                                   10030   ;Serial
                                   3600    ;Refresh
                                   1800    ;Retry
                                   604800  ;Expiry
                                   86400   ;Minimum TTL
    )
    
  3. Challenge

    Add the NS Record to the Zone File
    @       IN      NS      nameserver.labdomain.com.
    
  4. Challenge

    Add the A Records to the Zone File
    nameserver      IN      A       172.31.18.93
    mailprod        IN      A       172.31.18.30
    mailbackup      IN      A       172.31.18.72
    
  5. Challenge

    Add the CNAME Record to the Zone File
    dns     IN      CNAME   nameserver.labdomain.com.
    
  6. Challenge

    Save the File and Quit the Editor
    :wq
    
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