How to Check DNS ( BIND ) Configuration File

Command named-checkconf checks the syntax only of a named ( bind ) configuration file. The file is parsed and checked for syntax errors, along with all files included by it. If there is no file is specified with the command, /etc/named.conf is read by default.

1. Check DNS (Bind) Configuration

In case of any changes done in bind configuration, I recommend checking the DNS configuration file before restarting service.

named-checkconf /etc/named.conf

If the bind is running in chroot environment use below command also along with above command

named-checkconf -t /var/named/chroot /etc/named.conf

Above command will show nothing if there is no error found in the configuration file. In case of any error will displayed as output.

2. Check Bind Zone File

To check the syntax of zone file use command as below. It will show the result in both cases.

named-checkzone demotecadmin.net /var/named/demotecadmin.net.db

Sample output;

zone demotecadmin.net/IN: loaded serial 3013040200
OK

3. Check Configuration file in Older version of Bind

If you are using an older version of the bind, you can have also checked the configuration using below command.

service named configtest

Sample Outut:

zone tool.com/IN: loaded serial 42
zone localhost/IN: loaded serial 42
zone 1.168.192.in-addr.arpa/IN: loaded serial 1997022700
zone 0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.ip6.arpa/IN: loaded serial 1997022700
zone 255.in-addr.arpa/IN: loaded serial 42
zone 0.in-addr.arpa/IN: loaded serial 42