PDNS_RECURSOR(8)

NAME
pdns_recursor - high-performance, simple and secure recursing nameserver

SYNOPSIS

pdns_recursor [--daemon] [--local-address] [--help, -h] [--allow-from]

DESCRIPTION

pdns_recursor(8) is a high performance, simple and secure recursing nameserver. It currently powers over two million internet connections.

The recursor is configured via a configuration file, but each item in that file can be overridden on the command line.

This manpage lists the core set of features needed to get the PowerDNS recursor working, for full and up to date details head to http://doc.powerdns.com/built-in-recursor.html

EXAMPLES

To listen on 1.2.3.4 and allow the 1.2.3.0/8 subnet to recurse, and run as a daemon, execute:

    # pdns_recursor --local-address=1.2.3.4 --allow-from=1.2.3.0/8 --daemon

To stop the recursor by hand, run:

    # rec_control quit

    Alternatively, use the init.d script provided.

OPTIONS

For authoritative listing of options, consult the documentation referenced above.

--aaaa-additional-processing
    turn on to do AAAA additional processing (slow)

--allow-from
    If set, only allow these comma separated netmasks to recurse

--auth-can-lower-ttl
    Authoritative zones can transmit a TTL value that is lower than that specified in the parent zone. This is called a delegation inconsistency. To follow RFC 2181 paragraphs 5.2 and 5.4 to the letter, enable this feature. This will mean a slight deterioration of performance, and it will not solve any problems, but does make the recursor more standards compliant. Not recommended unless you have to tick an RFC 2181 compliant box. Off by default.

--auth-zones
    Comma separated list of zonename=filename pairs. Zones read from these files are served authoritatively. Example: auth-zones= ds9a.nl=/var/zones/ds9a.nl, powerdns.com=/var/zones/powerdns.com. Available since 3.1.

--chroot
    switch to chroot jail

--client-tcp-timeout
    Timeout in seconds when talking to TCP clients

--config-dir
    Location of configuration directory (recursor.conf)

--daemon
    Operate as a daemon

--delegation-only
    Which domains we only accept delegations from

--entropy-source
    Where to read new entropy from, defaults to /dev/urandom.

--export-etc-hosts
    If set, this flag will export the host names and IP addresses mentioned in /etc/hosts. Available since 3.1.

--fork
    If set, fork the daemon for possible double performance

--forward-zones
    Comma separated list of zonename=IP pairs. Queries for zones listed here will be forwarded to the IP address listed. forward-zones= ds9a.nl=213.244.168.210, powerdns.com=127.0.0.1. Available since 3.1. For more details, see the manual.

--forward-zones-file
    listed here will be forwarded to the IP address listed. One zone per line, like: ds9a.nl=213.244.168.210 Available since 3.1.5. For more details, see the manual.

--hint-file
    If set, load root hints from this file

--local-address
    IP addresses to listen on, separated by spaces or commas

--local-port
    port to listen on

--log-common-errors
    If we should log rather common errors

--max-cache-entries
    If set, maximum number of entries in the main cache

--max-negative-ttl
    maximum number of seconds to keep a negative cached entry in memory

--max-tcp-clients
    Maximum number of simultaneous TCP clients

--max-tcp-per-client
    If set, maximum number of TCP sessions per client (IP address)

--query-local-address
    Source IP address for sending queries

--query-local-address6
    Send out local IPv6 queries from this address. Disabled by default, which also disables outgoing IPv6 support. A useful setting is ::0.

--quiet
    Suppress logging of questions and answers

--remotes-ringbuffer-entries
    maximum number of packets to store statistics for

--server-id
    Returned when queried for server.id TXT, defaults to hostname

--serve-rfc1918
    On by default, this makes the server authoritatively aware of: 10.in-addr.arpa, 168.192.in-addr.arpa and 16-31.172.in-addr.arpa, which saves load on the AS112 servers. Individual parts of these zones can still be loaded or forwarded.

--setgid
    If set, change group id to this gid for more security

--setuid
    If set, change user id to this uid for more security

--single-socket
    If set, only use a single socket for outgoing queries

--socket-dir
    Where the controlsocket will live

--spoof-nearmiss-max
    If non-zero, assume spoofing after this many near misses

--trace
    if we should output heaps of logging

--version-string
    string reported on version.pdns or version.bind

BUGS

None known. File new ones at http://wiki.powerdns.com.

AUTHOR

Written by PowerDNS.COM BV, bert hubert, <bert.hubert@netherlabs.nl[1]>

RESOURCES

Website: http://wiki.powerdns.com, http://www.powerdns.com

SEE ALSO

rec_control(8)

COPYING

Copyright © 2006 PowerDNS.COM BV. Free use of this software is granted under the terms of the GNU General Public License (GPL) version 2.

NOTES

1.  bert.hubert@netherlabs.nl
    mailto:bert.hubert@netherlabs.nl