PDNS_RECURSOR(1)

NAME
pdns_recursor - The PowerDNS Recursor binary

SYNOPSIS

pdns_recursor [OPTION]...

DESCRIPTION

pdns_recursor is a high performance, simple and secure recursing nameserver. It currently powers hundreds of millions 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 https://doc.powerdns.com/.

EXAMPLES

To listen on 192.0.2.53 and allow the 192.0.2.0/24 subnet to recurse, and run as in the background, execute:

# pdns_recursor --local-address=192.0.2.53 --allow-from=192.0.2.0/24 --daemon

To stop the recursor by hand, run:

# rec_control quit

However, the recommended way of starting and stopping the recursor is to use systemctl(1) or the init.d script.

OPTIONS

For authoritative listing of options, consult the online documentation at <https://doc.powerdns.com/>

--allow-from=<networks>
    If set, only allow these comma separated networks, with network mask to recurse. For example: 192.0.2.0/24,203.0.113.128/25.

--auth-zones=<authzones>
    Where authzone is <zonename>=<filename>. Serve zonename from filename authoritatively. For example: ds9a.nl=/var/zones/ds9a.nl,powerdns.com=/var/zones/powerdns.com.

--chroot=<directory>
    chroot the process to directory.

--client-tcp-timeout=<num>
    Timeout in seconds when talking to TCP clients.

--config
    Show the current configuration. Since 4.8.0 there are three optional values: --config=default to show the default configuration. --config=diff show modified options in the current configuration. --config=check to check the current configuration for errors.

--config-dir=<directory>
    Location of configuration directory (recursor.conf), the default depends on the SYSCONFDIR option at build-time, which is usually /etc/powerdns. The default can be found with pdns_recursor --config | grep ' config-dir='.

--daemon
    Operate as a daemon.

--entropy-source=<file>
    Read new entropy from file, defaults to /dev/urandom.

--export-etc-hosts
    If set, this flag will export the hostnames and IP addresses mentioned in /etc/hosts.

--forward-zones=<forwardzones>
    Where forwardzone is <zonename>=<address>. Queries for zonename will be forwarded to address. address should be an IP address, not a hostname (to prevent chicken and egg problems). Example: forward-zones= ds9a.nl=213.244.168.210, powerdns.com=127.0.0.1.

--forward-zones-file=<filename>
    Similar to --forward-zones, but read the options from filename. filename should contain one zone per line, like: ds9a.nl=213.244.168.210.

--help
    Show a summary of options.

--hint-file=<filename>
    Load root hints from this filename

--local-address=<address>
    Listen on address, separated by spaces or commas. Addresses specified can include port numbers; any which do not include port numbers will listen on --local-port.

--local-port=<port>
    Listen on port.

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

--max-cache-entries=<num>
    Maximum number of entries in the main cache.

--max-negative-ttl=<num>
    maximum number of seconds to keep a negative cached entry in memory.

--max-tcp-clients=<num>
    Maximum number of simultaneous TCP clients.

--max-tcp-per-client=<num>
    If set, maximum number of TCP sessions per client (IP address).

--query-local-address=<address[,address...]>
    Use address as Source IP address when sending queries.

--quiet
    Suppress logging of questions and answers.

--server-id=<text>
    Return text WHen queried for 'id.server' 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=<gid>
    If set, change group id to gid for more security.

--setuid=<uid>
    If set, change user id to uid for more security.

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

--socket-dir=<directory>
    The controlsocket will live in directory.

--spoof-nearmiss-max=<num>
    If non-zero, assume spoofing after this many near misses.

--trace
    if we should output heaps of logging.

--version-string=<text>
    text WILL be reported on version.pdns or version.bind queries.

SEE ALSO

rec_control(1) systemctl(1) https://docs.powerdns.com/recursor

AUTHOR
PowerDNS.COM BV

COPYRIGHT
2001-2023, PowerDNS.COM BV