Networking Guide
Chapter 6, Configuring the Domain Name Service

Sample /etc/named.boot file

Sample /etc/named.boot file

The file /etc/named.boot contains information about the location of cache, database, and other name server files, and other information that is read each time the DNS daemon, named, starts.

Here is a sample named.boot file:

   ;
   ; Name Server boot file for primary name server volga for domain mynet.COM
   ;
   ; Type     Domain                   Source file or Host
   ;
   directory  /etc/named.d
   primary    mynet.COM                mynet.hosts
   primary    147.132.in-addr.arpa     mynet.rev
   primary    0.0.127.in-addr.arpa     named.local
   secondary  ucsc.edu                 128.114.129.22        ucsc.bak
   stub       sub.mynet.COM            132.147.24.1          sub.mynet.com.stub
   bogusns    132.147.118.3
   xfernets   132.147.246.8
   cache      .                       root.cache

You do not need a special line to designate that a server is a caching server. A caching-only server is indicated by the absence of authority lines, such as secondary or primary in the boot file.

Two additional entries cover the use of forwarders:

   forwarders   132.147.246.5 132.147.246.8
   slave
The first entry causes the server to forward requests to the first IP address listed: a server elsewhere on the net. If no response is received, the second server is tried. If unsuccessful again, it follows its default resolution procedure, either examining its cache, contacting other servers, or both.

The second entry, slave, restricts resolution further. A server acting in slave mode may only contact forwarders.

See also: