DNS/Setup a DNS resolver at home

Setting up a DNS resolver on local network

Almost everyone has an ISP that provides them with DNS resolvers, Sometimes referred to as DNS servers (since many DNS resolvers are also DNS nameservers)

Here, i will be posting a small tutorial on how to setup a resolver on a computer at home or at the office, so that you can clear the DNS cache whenever you wish, and with the resolver we get a nameserver (Bind).

This tutorial is also part of the DNS tutorial, so that you can experiment with DNS as you learn, and follow along.

Although i will be installing bind on a Linux machine, Bind can be installed on Windows and other operating system.

Here, i will install BIND on a debian lenny computer in a few minutes

The instructions are as follows.

1- Put the CD or DVD into the computer, boot from the CD or DVD, and start the installer.

2- Most parts of the installer are self explanatory, the only thing you should note is that we will only be installing a "standard system", you can go ahead and install anything else you wish to install as it will not be a problem (During the install you will be presented with the software selection screen), you can even install the GUI (Graphical user interface), but the only thing requiered up to this minute is a "standard system", You CAN select DNS Server from the list as well, but i will install it after i install the system for those who already run Debian Lenny (Or any other debian or Ubuntu).

3- If this is a "Linux only system" then you should install Grub for booting, if it has windows, you should be presented with the windows installation on your system, and if the correct version of windows appears, you should install grub as well.

4- Now we need SSH and openssh-server so that we can login to the system remotly.

apt-get update
apt-get install ssh openssh-server

Now i can login from my Windows Machine with a small application names putty

Now execute

apt-get install bind9

As you can see, what is downloaded is very little, Also, messages appeared saying,

The following new packages will be installed

bind9 bind9utils

Suggested packages are

bind9-doc resolvconf ufw

Now out of the box, Your installation will resolve for anyone, But is not yet authoritative for any zones, we will add zones to your bind install in the coming few sections