Additional Resources

BIND features a full-range of installed documentation covering many different topics, each placed in its own subject directory:

• /usr/share/doc/bind-<version-number> — Contains a README file with a list of the most recent features.

• /usr/share/doc/bind-<version-number>/arm — Contains HTML and SGML of the BIND 9 Administrator Reference Manual, which details BIND resource requirements, how to configure different types of nameservers, perform load balancing, and other advanced topics. For most new users of BIND, this is the best place to start.

• /usr/share/doc/bind-<version-number>/draft — Contains assorted technical documents that look at issues related to DNS service and some methods proposed to address them.

• /usr/share/doc/bind-<version-number>/misc — Contains documents designed to address specific advanced issues. Users of BIND version 8 should consult the migration document for specific changes they must make when moving to BIND 9. The options file lists all of the options implemented in BIND 9 that are used in /etc/named.conf.

• /usr/share/doc/bind-<version-number>/rfc — Every RFC document related to BIND is in this directory.

The following man pages are also useful:

• named — Explores assorted arguments that can be used to control the BIND nameserver daemon, such as the use of an alternative configuration file and running on a different port number or as a different user.

• rndc — Explains the different options available when using the rndc command to control a BIND nameserver.

http://www.isc.org/products/BIND — The home page of the BIND project, where you can find information concerning current releases and download a PDF version of the BIND 9 Administrator Reference Manual.

http://www.redhat.com/mirrors/LDP/HOWTO/DNS-HOWTO.html — Covers the use of BIND as a resolving, caching nameserver or the configuration of various zone files necessary to serve as the primary nameserver for a domain.

DNS and BIND by Paul Albitz and Cricket Liu; O'Reilly & Associates — A popular reference that explains both common and esoteric BIND configuration options, as well as providing strategies to secure your DNS server.

The Concise Guide to DNS and BIND by Nicolai Langfeldt; Que — Looks at the connection between multiple network services and BIND, with an emphasis on task-oriented, technical topics.