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'''Domain Name Resolution''' ('''DNS''') on Linux is done through a modular system that supports historical operation as well as modern software solutions. This system can lead to frustration, as when settings seem to magically reset on startup. '''Domain Name Resolution''' ('''DNS''') on Linux is done in a very similar way to [[BSD/DNS|DNS on BSD]]. It is worth reiterating that [[Bind|DNS was invented for BSD]].
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== Domain name resolution == == Name resolution ==

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If the resolver file is being configured directly (which is rare-see below), then it should look like: If the resolver file is being configured directly, then it should look like:
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---- Services that manipulate the resolver file include:

 * [[Linux/SystemdResolved|systemd-resolved]] and it's userland utility `resolvectl(1)`
 * [[Linux/SystemdResolved#ResolveConf|systemd-resolveconf]]
 * [[OpenResolv|openresolve]]
 * [[Dhcpcd|dhcpcd]]
 * [[NetworkManager]]
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== Multicast domain name resolution == === Utilities ===
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'''Multicast domain name resolution''' ('''mDNS''') is an expansion of the DNS protocol making use of the reserved address space. By convention, the `.local` domain is reserved for mDNS.  * `drill(1)`, used as `drill NAME @SERVER TYPE`
 * `dig(1)` (see [[Bind]]) used as `dig @SERVER NAME TYPE`
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== Link-local multicast name resolution == == Multicast name resolution ==
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'''Link-local multicast name resolution''' ('''LLMNR''') allows hosts to resolve names for other hosts on the same local link. Services listen on `224.0.0.252:5355` and `ff02::1:3:5355`. '''Multicast domain name resolution''' ('''mDNS''') is an expansion of the DNS protocol. An mDNS broadcaster makes use of port 5353 and resolves names in the `.local` domain.
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----



== Debugging DNS ==

=== Utilities ===

A number of tools exist for debugging DNS on Linux:
 * `drill`
 * `dig` (from the `bind` project, sometimes bundled with `dnsutils`)
 * `resolvectl` (from `systemd-resolved`), as in `resolvectl status`

----



== Programs that overwrite resolver files ==

=== dhcpcd ===

'''`dhcpcd`''' is primarily a DHCP client. It will try to send DHCP information to `resolvconf`, but if that service is unavailable, it will itself generate `/etc/resolv.conf`. This latter behavior can be disabled by editing `/etc/dhcpcd.conf`:

{{{
nohook resolv.conf
}}}

For most use cases, it is sufficient to provide a header file (`/etc/resolv.conf.head`) that `dhcpcd` will insert at the top of the new resolver file.

----


=== openresolv ===

'''`openresolv`''' is an implementation of the `resolvconf` protocol. It is (optionally or otherwise) used by many programs: `dhcpcd`, `iwd`, `NetworkManager`, `netctl`, `openvpn`, and `wireguard`.

To disable `openresolv`, set `resolveconf=NO` in the configuration file.

----



=== systemd-resolvconf ===

'''`systemd-resolvconf`''' is a compatibility layer between `systemd-resolved` and the `resolvconf` protocol. It should be used if a program necessarily calls `resolvconf` but control needs to be returned to `systemd`.

----



=== systemd-resolved ===

'''`systemd-resolved`''' is a multi-layered application, supporting modern DNS (and mDNS, and LLMNR) resolution:

 1. a daemon handling name resolution through a dbus API, with all modern features (i.e. DNSSEC)
 2. an NSS plugin (`resolve`) which re-implements most of the stack (''including'' reading the hosts file)
 3. a DNS stub listener on 127.0.0.53:53

The recommended configuration of `/etc/nsswitch.conf` is as follows:

{{{
hosts: mymachines resolve [!UNAVAIL=return] myhostname files dns
}}}

Then, the recommendation is to link the DNS stub file (which contains just the stub listen address, `127.0.0.53`) to `/etc/resolv.conf`.

{{{
ln -sf /run/systemd/resolve/stub-resolv.conf /etc/resolv.conf
}}}

On the other hand, to disable the stub listener (so as to run a different DNS server), edit `/etc/systemd/resolved.conf` as follows:

{{{
DNSStubListener=no
}}}
Note that there is also partial/coincidental support for '''link-local multicast name resolution''' ('''LLMNR''') in many of the Linux implementations of mDNS. LLMNR is a similar but deliberately incompatible protocol (using port 5355) and also with a limited scope for features.
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CategoryRicottone CategoryRicottone CategoryRicottone

DNS on Linux

Domain Name Resolution (DNS) on Linux is done in a very similar way to DNS on BSD. It is worth reiterating that DNS was invented for BSD.


Name resolution

Name Service Switch

The Name Service Switch (NSS) file (/etc/nsswitch.conf) defines the order of operations for various services, among them being name resolution.

A minimal configuration looks like...

hosts: files dns

This configuration will require a fully configured hosts file, as seen below.

Consider instead this configuration, which makes use of libraries and services from the systemd project. This will enable some omissions from the hosts file.

hosts: files mymachines myhostname dns

See here for more details on configuring /etc/nsswitch.

Hosts

The hosts file (/etc/hosts) is a list of addresses and names, especially for local hosts and machines. A basic hosts file looks like:

127.0.0.1 localhost

See here for more details on configuring /etc/hosts.

Resolver

The resolver configuration file (/etc/resolv.conf) is a list of nameservers to query for name resolution. The file is read sequentially for up to 3 nameservers for each lookup. As such, changes are effective immediately.

If the resolver file is being configured directly, then it should look like:

nameserver 8.8.8.8

See here for more details on configuring /etc/resolv.conf.

Services that manipulate the resolver file include:

Utilities

  • drill(1), used as drill NAME @SERVER TYPE

  • dig(1) (see Bind) used as dig @SERVER NAME TYPE


Multicast name resolution

Multicast domain name resolution (mDNS) is an expansion of the DNS protocol. An mDNS broadcaster makes use of port 5353 and resolves names in the .local domain.

Note that there is also partial/coincidental support for link-local multicast name resolution (LLMNR) in many of the Linux implementations of mDNS. LLMNR is a similar but deliberately incompatible protocol (using port 5355) and also with a limited scope for features.


CategoryRicottone CategoryRicottone

Linux/DNS (last edited 2023-06-22 20:45:42 by DominicRicottone)