The Software Behind the System

The software that runs the DNS is composed of two main parts: the nameserver software, often referred to as "named", and the resolver code. The nameserver software, appropriately enough, runs on nameservers, and stores zone information and answers queries. The resolver code, in some form or another, is ideally present on all machines connected to the Internet, and queries nameservers for that machine in order to determine IP addresses and other information. The resolver code is usually incorporated into the TCP/IP software of the machine.

The most popular implementation of DNS software is BIND (Berkeley Internet Name Domain), which includes a nameserver and a resolver library for the UNIX operating system. Most UNIX systems come with BIND. The latest non-beta can be ftped from ftp://ftp.isc.org/isc/bind/src/cur and information on the beta version can be found at http://www.isc.org/isc/bind.html.


Last modified: April 10, 2003 02:58:41 UTC
David Simmons
send mail