Entry

How do I get started with djbdns?

How do I get started with djbdns?

Aug 25th, 2001 01:00
Brian Coogan,

The best starting place is to read the Articles listed at 
http://djbdns.faqts.com - they provide readable and well written 
overviews which help you understand how djbdns all hangs together 
before you read the more detailed documentation.  Several of the 
articles provide cookbook approaches to getting djbdns installed for a 
number of simple cases.  If you just want to install djbdns for a small 
site, you should read the articles and follow the cookbook steps as 
they'll do most of what you want.  If you want to find out more about 
djbdns, the following provides a suggested approach for how you might 
go about it.
After the articles, the next thing you should do would be to skim the 
FAQs (currently there are 3 - the official FAQ, this one, and Felix von 
Leitner's) and read the official installation instructions carefully.
  FAQs:
    http://djbdns.faqts.com -- see links
  Dan Bernstein’s Official FAQ:
    http://cr.yp.to/djbdns/faq.html
  Official installation instructions:
    http://cr.yp.to/djbdns/install.html
If you are upgrading from Bind, read this carefully:
  Upgrading from Bind to djbdns:
    http://cr.yp.to/djbdns/frombind.html
The author's documentation (at cr.yp.to) tends to be very precise and 
careful and beginners can find it a little too concise -- but bear in 
mind that it has the advantage that the author takes considerable pains 
to ensure its correctness.  If you need a well written guide to 
installing and using djbdns and designing DNS solutions with it to get 
you going, read Life with djbdns (a detailed document that parallels 
Life with qmail) which can be found at:
   Life with djbdns
     http://www.lifewithdjbdns.org
Then, of course, there's the detailed official documentation which is 
actually pretty good once you get that basic understanding:
    http://cr.yp.to/djbdns.html
Some other places to look that are worth noting:
  Dan's troubleshooting FAQ entry:
    http://cr.yp.to/djbdns/faq/tinydns.html#testing
Setting the data file contents up correctly - people often get confused 
by this initially:
    http://cr.yp.to/djbdns/tinydns-data.html
    http://www.faqts.com/knowledge_base/view.phtml/aid/8817/fid/699
    http://www.faqts.com/knowledge_base/view.phtml/aid/9673/fid/699
The djbdns model is one of smaller modules which fit together to 
provide an effective working solution.  This is a substantial paradigm 
change from the Bind model which works on the basis of one massive 
server doing everything;  and so it can take a little time initially to 
understand.  The time is worth it as the difference is a more secure 
and stable seystem which is actually easier to administer.  Crucially, 
the particular difference you must understand is the distinction djbdns 
makes between a content server (tinydns, serving from database) and a 
proxy server (dnscache, doing recursive resolution):
    http://www.faqts.com/knowledge_base/view.phtml/aid/8740/fid/699
The mailing list is also available to help you keep up to date.  Be 
aware that if you ask questions on the mailing list you should provide 
clear, complete details or you will be largely ignored as people simply 
can't help.  Include real IP addresses and domain names unless you are 
on a private subnet so people can check things out for you.  But 
please, read the documentation first as it will probably get your 
question answered more thoroughly!  For details on the mailing list see:
    http://www.faqts.com/knowledge_base/view.phtml/aid/8737/fid/699
All the best!