Yes, the file tells programs using the resolv/bind libraries (built
into libc) what nameserver(s) to use. You have to list your own IP
address in resolv.conf if you want the local name server to be used.
>
> Is there anyway to change the default timing before the nameserver goes
> to the next entry in its forward list ? I'm on a slow link and would like
> to prevent it from swamping the channel with multiple DNS requests.
I'd be interested in this too (as far as I know, there isn't).
Your best bet in a very low bandwidth situation is probably to have
your named.boot file have a line:
forwarders aa.bb.cc.dd ; IP address or list of addresses
where the IP address is a nearby name server - typically the
biggest, fastest one in your network, because it would have a large
cache. Basically, if you have a slow link, you don't want to waste
time querying root name servers (which may be unreachable) then turn
around and query other name servers which may be slow or unreachable.
In resolv.conf you can try putting:
nameserver 127.0.0.1
nameserver 127.0.0.1
nameserver 127.0.0.1
nameserver some.other.backup.nameserver
So a lookup hits the local nameserver a few times. On a slow link,
a client query can timeout, but a second query may succeed (because
the local nameserver is also querying and caching results).
I would also look at sendmail, tcpd, and httpd configuration files
to disable useless reverse lookups, ident/auth queries etc.
>
> Thanks...
> ... Niall
>
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