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DNS: Configure a Caching Only Name Server

Creating a caching-only name server is the most basic type of BIND configuration. This configuration is the main building block for more advanced BIND configurations. Students will learn to configure a caching-only name server and test name resolution with the `nslookup` command.

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Path Info

Level
Clock icon Beginner
Duration
Clock icon 15m
Last updated
Clock icon Aug 08, 2025

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Table of Contents

  1. Challenge

    Log in to the lab server with the `cloud_user` and issue `sudo -i` to gain root access. 

    $ ssh cloud_user@<"provided lab server IP">
Password:

    $ sudo -i
[sudo] password for cloud_user: 
# 
# id
uid=0(root) gid=0(root) groups=0(root) context=unconfined_u:unconfined_r:unconfined_t:s0-s0:c0.c1023

  2. Challenge

    Install the `bind` and `bind-utils` packages. 

    # yum install -y bind bind-utils

  3. Challenge

    Verify the `named` configuration for `localhost`. Then check the configuration for syntax errors with the `named-checkconf` command. 

    # cat /etc/named.conf

    # named-checkconf

  4. Challenge

    Start and enable the `named` service. 

    # systemctl start named
# systemctl enable named

  5. Challenge

    Run a DNS query against the DNS server defined in `/etc/resolv.conf`. Next, run a DNS query against `localhost`. 

    # nslookup google.com

    # nslookup google.com localhost
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Pluralsight Skills

Pluralsight Skills gives leaders confidence they have the skills needed to execute technology strategy. Technology teams can benchmark expertise across roles, speed up release cycles and build reliable, secure products. By leveraging our expert content, skill assessments and one-of-a-kind analytics, keep up with the pace of change, put the right people on the right projects and boost productivity. It's the most effective path to developing tech skills at scale.

What's a lab?

Hands-on Labs are real environments created by industry experts to help you learn. These environments help you gain knowledge and experience, practice without compromising your system, test without risk, destroy without fear, and let you learn from your mistakes. Hands-on Labs: practice your skills before delivering in the real world.

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Follow along with the author’s guided walkthrough and build something new in your provided environment!

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