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DNS: Working with RNDC Keys

BIND uses a shared secret key authentication method to grant privileges to hosts. It is important to know how to generate this key for administration purposes. In this hands-on lab, we will learn to configure the RNDC key and configuration file, and link it to the `named` service. To accomplish this, we will install the BIND package and recreate the RNDC key and configuration. We will then copy the new configuration to the `named.conf` file. To complete this lab, you will have to show that a new configuration has been created and that DNS queries are being cached on `localhost`.

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Path Info

Level
Clock icon Intermediate
Duration
Clock icon 15m
Last updated
Clock icon Aug 10, 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@**.**.**.** . (your 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. Start and enable the `named` service.

    1. Install bind and bind-utils:
    # yum install -y bind bind-utils
    1. Start and enable the named service:
    # systemctl start named
# systemctl enable named

  3. Challenge

    Recreate the RNDC key and configuration file.

    1. Remove the rndc.key file.
    # rm /etc/rndc.key
    1. Stop the named service.
    # systemctl stop named
    1. Generate an rndc key and configuration file.
    # rndc-confgen -r /dev/urandom > /etc/rndc.conf

  4. Challenge

    Link the RNDC configuration to the `named` configuration.

    1. Open the /etc/rndc.conf file with vim:
    # vim /etc/rndc.conf

    1. Copy the section "Copy to the named.conf file"

    2. Open the /etc/named.conf file for editing with vim.

    # vim /etc/named.conf
    1. Paste the copied section into /etc/named.conf just before the include statements and delete the # signs at the beginning of the lines.

  5. Challenge

    Start the `named` service. 

    # systemctl start named

  6. Challenge

    Test the configuration to ensure records are being cached on the localhost. 

    # nslookup www.google.com 127.0.0.1
Pluralsight Skills - Labs - Pluralsight
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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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