System Administration Guide: Naming and Directory Services (DNS, NIS, and LDAP)

The `named.conf` Options

The following list compares the named.conf options between BIND 8 and BIND 9. It also provides a brief description of the changes. An OK in the Changes column denotes the option works unchanged for the BIND 9 version of named.

Options {	Changes
[ version version_string; ]	OK
[ directory path_name; ]	OK
[ named-xfer path_name; ]	Obsolete [Obsolete due to architectural differences.]
[ dump-file path_name; ]	OK
[ memstatistics-file path_name; ]	Not Implemented
[ pid-file path_name; ]	OK
[ statistics-file path_name; ]	OK
[ auth-nxdomain yes_or_no; ]	OK [Default set to yes in BIND 8, no in BIND 9.]
[ dialup yes_or_no;	OK
[ fake-iquery yes_or_no; ]	Obsolete
[ fetch-glue yes_or_no; ]	Obsolete
[ has-old-clients yes_or_no; ]	Obsolete
[ host-statistics yes_or_no; ]	Not Implemented
[ host-statistics-max number; ]	Not Implemented
[ multiple-cnames yes_or_no; ]	Obsolete
[ notify yes_or_no \| explicit; ]	OK
[ recursion yes_or_no; ]	OK
[ rfc2308-type1 yes_or_no; ]	Not Implemented
[ use-id-pool yes_or_no; ]	Obsolete
[ treat-cr-as-space yes_or_no; ]	Obsolete
[ also-notify yes_or_no; ]	Syntax Changed [Needs an IP address for yes.]
[ forward ( only \| first ); ]	OK [Doesn't work if no forwarder specified; Gives an error of `no matching 'forwarders' statement` in that case.]
[ forwarders { [ in_addr ; \ [ in_addr ; ... ] ] }; ]	OK [See [ forward ] clause.]
[ check-names ( master \| slave \| \ response ) ( warn \| fail \| ignore); ]	Not Implemented
[ allow-query { address_match_list }; ]	OK
[ allow-recursion { address_match_list }; ]	OK
[ allow-transfer { address_match_list }; ]	OK
[ blackhole { address_match_list }; ]	OK
[ listen-on [ port ip_port ] \ { address_match_list }; ]	OK
[ query-source [ address ( ip_addr \| * ) ] \	OK
[ port ( ip_port \| * ) ] ; ] [ lame-ttl number; ]	OK
[ max-transfer-time-in number; ]	OK
[ max-ncache-ttl number; ]	OK
[ min-roots number; ]	Not Implemented
[ transfer-format ( one-answer \| \ many-answers ); ]	OK [Default set to `one-answer` in BIND 8 and `many-answers` in BIND 9.]
[ transfers-in number; ]	OK
[ transfers-out number; ]	OK
[ transfers-per-ns number; ]	OK
[ transfer-source ip_addr; ]	OK
[ maintain-ixfr-base yes_or_no; ]	Obsolete
[ max-ixfr-log-size number; ]	Obsolete [No need for this option as BIND 9 trims the size of its log file automatically.]
[ coresize size_spec ; ]	OK
[ datasize size_spec ; ]	OK
[ files size_spec ; ]	OK
[ stacksize size_spec ; ]	OK
[ cleaning-interval number; ]	OK
[ heartbeat-interval number; ]	OK
[ interface-interval number; ]	OK
[ statistics-interval number; ]	Not Implemented
[ topology { address_match_list }; ]	Not Implemented
[ sortlist { address_match_list }; ]	OK
[ rrset-order { order_spec ; \ [ order_spec ; ... ] }; ]	Not Implemented
};

Statements in BIND 9

This section describes any differences between BIND 8 and BIND 9 statements.

The `Controls` Statement

unix is the default for ndc and all of the arguments are compiled in. inet is the only option for rndc and nothing is compiled in.

  Syntax
     controls {
       [ inet ip_addr
         port ip_port
         allow { address_match_list; }; ]	OK
       [ unix path_name
         perm number
         owner number
         group number; ]			Not Implemented
     };

Logging syntax has changed significantly. See The named.conf Options for a list of named.conf options.

The `Zone` Statement

The syntax for the zone statement in the BIND 8 named.conf man page is.mostly supported for BIND 9 except for the following:

  [ pubkey number number number string; ]	Obsolete
  [ check-names ( warn | fail | ignore ); ]	Not Implemented

The `ACL` Statement

Works unchanged in BIND 9.

  Syntax
     acl name {
       address_match_list
     };

The `Key` Statement

Works unchanged in BIND 9.

  Syntax
     key key_id {
       algorithm algorithm_id;
       secret secret_string;
     };

The `Trusted-Keys` Statement

Works unchanged, however the code to use this statement has been turned off in BIND 9.2.4.

  Syntax
     trusted-keys {
       [ domain_name flags protocol algorithm key; ]
     };

The `Server` Statement

support-ixfr is obsolete, however all of the following options work unchanged in BIND 9. Note the default for transfer-format has changed.

  Syntax
     server ip_addr {
       [ bogus yes_or_no; ]
       [ transfers number; ]
       [ transfer-format ( one-answer | many-answers ); ]
       [ keys { key_id [ key_id ... ] }; ]
       [ edns yes_or_no; ]
     };

The `Include` Statement

Works unchanged in BIND 9.

  Syntax
     include path_name;

Summary of the `named.conf` Options

A detailed named.conf man page is not included with BIND 9.2.4. Following is a summary of the named.conf options that are supported in BIND 9.2.4.

options  {
        blackhole { <address_match_element>; ... };
        coresize <size>;
        datasize <size>;
        deallocate-on-exit <boolean>; // obsolete
        directory <quoted_string>;
        dump-file <quoted_string>;
        fake-iquery <boolean>; // obsolete
        files <size>;
        has-old-clients <boolean>; // obsolete
        heartbeat-interval <integer>;
        host-statistics <boolean>; // not implemented
        host-statistics-max <integer>; // not implemented
        interface-interval <integer>;
        listen-on [ port <integer> ] { <address_match_element>; ... };
        listen-on-v6 [ port <integer> ] { <address_match_element>; ... };
        match-mapped-addresses <boolean>;
        memstatistics-file <quoted_string>; // not implemented
        multiple-cnames <boolean>; // obsolete
        named-xfer <quoted_string>; // obsolete
        pid-file <quoted_string>;
        port <integer>;
        random-device <quoted_string>;
        recursive-clients <integer>;
        rrset-order { [ class <string> ] [ type <string> ] [ name
            <quoted_string> ] <string> <string>; ... }; // not implemented
        serial-queries <integer>; // obsolete
        serial-query-rate <integer>;
        stacksize <size>;
        statistics-file <quoted_string>;
        statistics-interval <integer>; // not yet implemented
        tcp-clients <integer>;
        tkey-dhkey <quoted_string> <integer>;
        tkey-gssapi-credential <quoted_string>;
        tkey-domain <quoted_string>;
        transfers-per-ns <integer>;
        transfers-in <integer>;
        transfers-out <integer>;
        treat-cr-as-space <boolean>; // obsolete
        use-id-pool <boolean>; // obsolete
        use-ixfr <boolean>;
        version <quoted_string>;
        allow-recursion { <address_match_element>; ... };
        allow-v6-synthesis { <address_match_element>; ... };
        sortlist { <address_match_element>; ... };
        topology { <address_match_element>; ... }; // not implemented
        auth-nxdomain <boolean>; // default changed
        minimal-responses <boolean>;
        recursion <boolean>;
        provide-ixfr <boolean>;
        request-ixfr <boolean>;
        fetch-glue <boolean>; // obsolete
        rfc2308-type1 <boolean>; // not yet implemented
        additional-from-auth <boolean>;
        additional-from-cache <boolean>;
        query-source <querysource4>;
        query-source-v6 <querysource6>;
        cleaning-interval <integer>;
        min-roots <integer>; // not implemented
        lame-ttl <integer>;
        max-ncache-ttl <integer>;
        max-cache-ttl <integer>;
        transfer-format ( many-answers | one-answer );
        max-cache-size <size_no_default>;
        check-names <string> <string>; // not implemented
        cache-file <quoted_string>;
        allow-query { <address_match_element>; ... };
        allow-transfer { <address_match_element>; ... };
        allow-update-forwarding { <address_match_element>; ... };
        allow-notify { <address_match_element>; ... };
        notify <notifytype>;
        notify-source ( <ipv4_address> | * ) [ port ( <integer> | * ) ];
        notify-source-v6 ( <ipv6_address> | * ) [ port ( <integer> | * ) ];
        also-notify [ port <integer> ] { ( <ipv4_address> | <ipv6_address>
            ) [ port <integer> ]; ... };
        dialup <dialuptype>;
        forward ( first | only );
        forwarders [ port <integer> ] { ( <ipv4_address> | <ipv6_address> )
            [ port <integer> ]; ... };
        maintain-ixfr-base <boolean>; // obsolete
        max-ixfr-log-size <size>; // obsolete
        transfer-source ( <ipv4_address> | * ) [ port ( <integer> | * ) ];
        transfer-source-v6 ( <ipv6_address> | * ) [ port ( <integer> | * ) ];
        max-transfer-time-in <integer>;
        max-transfer-time-out <integer>;
        max-transfer-idle-in <integer>;
        max-transfer-idle-out <integer>;
        max-retry-time <integer>;
        min-retry-time <integer>;
        max-refresh-time <integer>;
        min-refresh-time <integer>;
        sig-validity-interval <integer>;
        zone-statistics <boolean>;
};

controls {
        inet ( <ipv4_address> | <ipv6_address> | * ) [ port ( <integer> | *
            ) ] allow { <address_match_element>; ... } [ keys { <string>; ... } ];
        unix <unsupported>; // not implemented
};

acl <string> { <address_match_element>; ... };

logging {
        channel <string> {
                file <logfile>;
                syslog <optional_facility>;
                null;
                stderr;
                severity <logseverity>;
                print-time <boolean>;
                print-severity <boolean>;
                print-category <boolean>;
        };
        category <string> { <string>; ... };
};

view <string> <optional_class> {
        match-clients { <address_match_element>; ... };
        match-destinations { <address_match_element>; ... };
        match-recursive-only <boolean>;
        key <string> {
                algorithm <string>;
                secret <string>;
        };
        zone <string> <optional_class> {
                type ( master | slave | stub | hint | forward );
                allow-update { <address_match_element>; ... };
                file <quoted_string>;
                ixfr-base <quoted_string>; // obsolete
                ixfr-tmp-file <quoted_string>; // obsolete
                masters [ port <integer> ] { ( <ipv4_address> |
                    <ipv6_address> ) [ port <integer> ] [ key <string> ]; ... };
                pubkey <integer> <integer> <integer> <quoted_string>; //
                    obsolete
                update-policy { ( grant | deny ) <string> ( name |
                    subdomain | wildcard | self ) <string> <rrtypelist>; ... };
                database <string>;
                check-names <string>; // not implemented
                allow-query { <address_match_element>; ... };
                allow-transfer { <address_match_element>; ... };
                allow-update-forwarding { <address_match_element>; ... };
                allow-notify { <address_match_element>; ... };
                notify <notifytype>;
                notify-source ( <ipv4_address> | * ) [ port ( <integer> | *
                    ) ];
                notify-source-v6 ( <ipv6_address> | * ) [ port ( <integer>
                    | * ) ];
                also-notify [ port <integer> ] { ( <ipv4_address> |
                    <ipv6_address> ) [ port <integer> ]; ... };
                dialup <dialuptype>;
                forward ( first | only );
                forwarders [ port <integer> ] { ( <ipv4_address> |
                    <ipv6_address> ) [ port <integer> ]; ... };
                maintain-ixfr-base <boolean>; // obsolete
                max-ixfr-log-size <size>; // obsolete
                transfer-source ( <ipv4_address> | * ) [ port ( <integer> |
                    * ) ];
                transfer-source-v6 ( <ipv6_address> | * ) [ port (
                    <integer> | * ) ];
                max-transfer-time-in <integer>;
                max-transfer-time-out <integer>;
                max-transfer-idle-in <integer>;
                max-transfer-idle-out <integer>;
                max-retry-time <integer>;
                min-retry-time <integer>;
                max-refresh-time <integer>;
                min-refresh-time <integer>;
                sig-validity-interval <integer>;
                zone-statistics <boolean>;
        };
        server {
                bogus <boolean>;
                provide-ixfr <boolean>;
                request-ixfr <boolean>;
                support-ixfr <boolean>; // obsolete
                transfers <integer>;
                transfer-format ( many-answers | one-answer );
                keys <server_key>;
                edns <boolean>;
        };
        trusted-keys { <string> <integer> <integer> <integer>
            <quoted_string>; ... };
        allow-recursion { <address_match_element>; ... };
        allow-v6-synthesis { <address_match_element>; ... };
        sortlist { <address_match_element>; ... };
        topology { <address_match_element>; ... }; // not implemented
        auth-nxdomain <boolean>; // default changed
        minimal-responses <boolean>;
        recursion <boolean>;
        provide-ixfr <boolean>;
        request-ixfr <boolean>;
        fetch-glue <boolean>; // obsolete
        rfc2308-type1 <boolean>; // not yet implemented
        additional-from-auth <boolean>;
        additional-from-cache <boolean>;
        query-source <querysource4>;
        query-source-v6 <querysource6>;
        cleaning-interval <integer>;
        min-roots <integer>; // not implemented
        lame-ttl <integer>;
        max-ncache-ttl <integer>;
        max-cache-ttl <integer>;
        transfer-format ( many-answers | one-answer );
        max-cache-size <size_no_default>;
        check-names <string> <string>; // not implemented
        cache-file <quoted_string>;
        allow-query { <address_match_element>; ... };
        allow-transfer { <address_match_element>; ... };
        allow-update-forwarding { <address_match_element>; ... };
        allow-notify { <address_match_element>; ... };
        notify <notifytype>;
        notify-source ( <ipv4_address> | * ) [ port ( <integer> | * ) ];
        notify-source-v6 ( <ipv6_address> | * ) [ port ( <integer> | * ) ];
        also-notify [ port <integer> ] { ( <ipv4_address> | <ipv6_address>
            ) [ port <integer> ]; ... };
        dialup <dialuptype>;
        forward ( first | only );
        forwarders [ port <integer> ] { ( <ipv4_address> | <ipv6_address> )
            [ port <integer> ]; ... };
        maintain-ixfr-base <boolean>; // obsolete
        max-ixfr-log-size <size>; // obsolete
        transfer-source ( <ipv4_address> | * ) [ port ( <integer> | * ) ];
        transfer-source-v6 ( <ipv6_address> | * ) [ port ( <integer> | * ) ];
        max-transfer-time-in <integer>;
        max-transfer-time-out <integer>;
        max-transfer-idle-in <integer>;
        max-transfer-idle-out <integer>;
        max-retry-time <integer>;
        min-retry-time <integer>;
        max-refresh-time <integer>;
        min-refresh-time <integer>;
        sig-validity-interval <integer>;
        zone-statistics <boolean>;
};

lwres {
        listen-on [ port <integer> ] { ( <ipv4_address> | <ipv6_address> )
            [ port <integer> ]; ... };
        view <string> <optional_class>;
        search { <string>; ... };
        ndots <integer>;
};

key <string> {
        algorithm <string>;
        secret <string>;
};

zone <string> <optional_class> {
        type ( master | slave | stub | hint | forward );
        allow-update { <address_match_element>; ... };
        file <quoted_string>;
        ixfr-base <quoted_string>; // obsolete
        ixfr-tmp-file <quoted_string>; // obsolete
        masters [ port <integer> ] { ( <ipv4_address> | <ipv6_address> ) [
            port <integer> ] [ key <string> ]; ... };
        pubkey <integer> <integer> <integer> <quoted_string>; // obsolete
        update-policy { ( grant | deny ) <string> ( name | subdomain |
            wildcard | self ) <string> <rrtypelist>; ... };
        database <string>;
        check-names <string>; // not implemented
        allow-query { <address_match_element>; ... };
        allow-transfer { <address_match_element>; ... };
        allow-update-forwarding { <address_match_element>; ... };
        allow-notify { <address_match_element>; ... };
        notify <notifytype>;
        notify-source ( <ipv4_address> | * ) [ port ( <integer> | * ) ];
        notify-source-v6 ( <ipv6_address> | * ) [ port ( <integer> | * ) ];
        also-notify [ port <integer> ] { ( <ipv4_address> | <ipv6_address>
            ) [ port <integer> ]; ... };
        dialup <dialuptype>;
        forward ( first | only );
        forwarders [ port <integer> ] { ( <ipv4_address> | <ipv6_address> )
            [ port <integer> ]; ... };
        maintain-ixfr-base <boolean>; // obsolete
        max-ixfr-log-size <size>; // obsolete
        transfer-source ( <ipv4_address> | * ) [ port ( <integer> | * ) ];
        transfer-source-v6 ( <ipv6_address> | * ) [ port ( <integer> | * ) ];
        max-transfer-time-in <integer>;
        max-transfer-time-out <integer>;
        max-transfer-idle-in <integer>;
        max-transfer-idle-out <integer>;
        max-retry-time <integer>;
        min-retry-time <integer>;
        max-refresh-time <integer>;
        min-refresh-time <integer>;
        sig-validity-interval <integer>;
        zone-statistics <boolean>;
};

server {
        bogus <boolean>;
        provide-ixfr <boolean>;
        request-ixfr <boolean>;
        support-ixfr <boolean>; // obsolete
        transfers <integer>;
        transfer-format ( many-answers | one-answer );
        keys <server_key>;
        edns <boolean>;
};

trusted-keys { <string> <integer> <integer> <integer> <quoted_string>; ... };

The named.conf Options

Statements in BIND 9

The Controls Statement

The Zone Statement

The ACL Statement

The Key Statement

The Trusted-Keys Statement

The Server Statement

The Include Statement

Summary of the named.conf Options

The `named.conf` Options

The `Controls` Statement

The `Zone` Statement

The `ACL` Statement

The `Key` Statement

The `Trusted-Keys` Statement

The `Server` Statement

The `Include` Statement

Summary of the `named.conf` Options