Host Your Own DNS Server – A Comprehensive Guide for Dev

Hello Dev, are you tired of relying on third-party DNS services? Are you worried about privacy and security issues related to third-party DNS servers? If so, it might be time to consider hosting your own DNS server. In this article, we will guide you through the process of hosting your own DNS server, from choosing the right hardware and software to configuring your server and testing its performance. Let’s get started!

Part 1: Choosing the Right Hardware and Software

Before you start hosting your own DNS server, you need to choose the right hardware and software. Here are some key factors to consider:

Hardware Requirements

The hardware requirements for hosting your own DNS server depend on the size of your network and the amount of traffic your server is expected to handle. Here is a general guideline:

Software Requirements

The most popular DNS software is BIND (Berkeley Internet Name Domain), which is open-source and free to use. However, there are other alternatives such as NSD (Name Server Daemon) and PowerDNS that are worth considering. Here are some key factors to consider:

Based on your needs and preferences, you can choose the software that best suits your requirements. In the next part, we will guide you through the process of installing and configuring your DNS server.

Part 2: Installing and Configuring Your DNS Server

Once you have chosen the right hardware and software, it’s time to install and configure your DNS server. Here are the steps you need to follow:

Step 1: Install the DNS Software

The first step is to install the DNS software on your server. Depending on the software you have chosen, the installation process may vary. Here are some general guidelines:

If you are using BIND:

sudo apt-get install bind9

If you are using NSD:

sudo apt-get install nsd

If you are using PowerDNS:

sudo apt-get install pdns-server pdns-backend-sqlite3

Step 2: Configure Your DNS Server

The next step is to configure your DNS server. Depending on your network setup and the software you have chosen, the configuration process may vary. Here are some general guidelines:

If you are using BIND:

Edit the /etc/bind/named.conf.options file to set your server options:

options {
directory "/var/cache/bind";
allow-query { any; }; # allow queries from any IP address
};

Create a zone file for your domain:

sudo nano /etc/bind/db.example.com

Add the following content to the file:

$TTL604800
@INSOAns.example.com. admin.example.com. (
3; Serial
604800; Refresh
86400; Retry
2419200; Expire
604800 ); Negative Cache TTL
;
INNSns.example.com.
nsINA192.168.1.1

Save and close the file.

If you are using NSD:

Edit the /etc/nsd/nsd.conf file to set your server options:

server:
ip-address: 192.168.1.1
do-ip4: yes
hide-version: yes
zonefile: "/etc/nsd/zones/example.com.zone"

Create a zone file for your domain:

sudo nano /etc/nsd/zones/example.com.zone

Add the following content to the file:

$TTL604800
@INSOAns.example.com. admin.example.com. (
3; serial
604800; refresh
86400; retry
2419200; expire
604800 ); negative cache TTL
@INNSns.example.com.
nsINA192.168.1.1

Save and close the file.

If you are using PowerDNS:

Edit the /etc/powerdns/pdns.conf file to set your server options:

launch=gsqlite3
gsqlite3-database=/var/lib/powerdns/pdns.sqlite3

Create a zone file for your domain:

sudo sqlite3 /var/lib/powerdns/pdns.sqlite3
INSERT INTO domains (name, type) VALUES ('example.com', 'MASTER');
INSERT INTO records (domain_id, name, type, content) VALUES (1, '@', 'SOA', 'ns.example.com admin.example.com 3 604800 86400 2419200 604800');
INSERT INTO records (domain_id, name, type, content) VALUES (1, 'ns', 'A', '192.168.1.1');