DNS: Create a Forward Zone

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DNS: Create a Forward Zone

Zones and zone files are key components in configuring DNS servers. In this lab, we will configure a forward zone and a forward zone file, then add TTL, SOA, NS, and A records. Next, we will run a syntax check on the `named.conf` and the forward zone file with `named-checkconf` and `named-checkzone`, respectively. 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 Info

Level

Intermediate

Last updated

Aug 10, 2025

Duration

15m

Challenge

Add the forward zone configuration to the `/etc/named.conf` file. Then run the `named-checkconf` command to verify the configuration.
1. Add the forward zone configuration:
```
vim /etc/named.conf
```
1. Insert the zone configuration just before the include statements at the bottom of the file:
```
zone "mylabserver.com" {
   type master;
   file "/var/named/fwd.mylabserver.com.db";
};
```
1. Run the named-checkconf command to verify the configuration.
```
named-checkconf
```

Challenge

Create the forward zone file and check the configuration for syntax errors with `named-checkzone`.

Create the forward zone file and enter the following information:

vim /var/named/fwd.mylabserver.com.db

Enter in the following:

$TTL    86400
@       IN      SOA     nameserver.mylabserver.com. root.mylabserver.com. (
                          10030         ; Serial
                           3600         ; Refresh
                           1800         ; Retry
                         604800         ; Expiry
                          86400         ; Minimum TTL
)
; Name Server
@        IN      NS       nameserver.mylabserver.com.
; A Record Definitions
nameserver       IN      A       172.31.18.93
mailprod         IN      A       172.31.18.30
mailbackup       IN      A       172.31.18.72
; Canonical Name/Alias
dns        IN    CNAME    nameserver.mylabserver.com.
; Mail Exchange Records
@        IN    MX    10    mailprod.mylabserver.com.
@        IN    MX    20    mailbackup.mylabserver.com.

Run the named-checkzone command to check the zone file for syntax errors.

named-checkzone mylabserver.com /var/named/fwd.mylabserver.com.db

Challenge

Change the file permissions and the group owner for `/var/named/fwd.mylabserver.com.db`.
1. Change the file permissions for /var/named/fwd.mylabserver.com.db:
```
chmod 760 /var/named/fwd.mylabserver.com.db
```
1. Change the group owner of the file to named.
```
chgrp named /var/named/fwd.mylabserver.com.db
```
Challenge

Restart the named service.
```
systemctl restart named
```
Challenge

Run a query to test the configuration.
```
nslookup mailprod.mylabserver.com localhost
```

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