Beginner DNS questions: named.boot versus named.conf?

[Ed Lawrence_1]

I'm following the H3065S C.00(Sys ADm & Netwrkg 2) book on my own.

All systems run HP-UX 11.00. Some systems have QPK1100 installed. Systems include: two K420s, a C200, and a B132L.
Ttried to re-create the labs from Ch 12 on my own; have enough equipment to create a smaller setup but still like the one described on pg 12-47.

When configuring the master server server (pg 48), step 7 failed (starting the named daemon).
I figured out that I did not have a /etc/named.boot file. I found that merely doing a "touch named.boot" or copying the boot.sec.save file to named.boot would allow the daemon to start.

The Rehman book says that the boot.sec.save file should be copied to the slave server as named.boot, but I failed to note any reference to the master server.

The HP course book also refers to /etc/named.conf file. The Rehman book does not.

I'm confused about the use of these two files. Is named.boot required on the Master? Is named.conf used any more(is my book old)?

Thanks.

[Rainer von Bongartz · Accepted solution]

It depends on the versions of bind your are using:

pre 8.x versions of bind used named.boot

all versions later use the confi file named.conf


Regards
Rainer

[Shannon Petry]

It is best of you learn up on DNS with a good resource. Pick up "DNS and BIND" published by OReilly and associates.

What you see in a named.conf and a named.boot file are because your book is referencing multiple versions of BIND. Use named -v to find your version, and build your configuration files accordingly.

named.boot is the older config file for named. It is kind of /etc/hosts like, and easy to understand for the Unix folks.

named.conf is the new style config file for named. It is more C-like and easy for programmers to understand. Most UNIX people program too, so should not be rocket science to figure out.

Regards,
Shannon

[Ed Lawrence_1]

Thank you for the prompt response.
"what /usr/sbin/named" displays rev 4.9.7.
The course book says the examples are for 8.1.2.

[Rainer von Bongartz]

Ed

pick up a recent version of bind from:

http://www.software.hp.com/products/DNS_BIND/index.html#download


Regards
Rainer

[Ed Lawrence_1]

Thread closed; thanks everyone.