RNDC-CONFGEN(8)

NAME

rndc-confgen - rndc key generation tool

SYNOPSIS

rndc-confgen [-a] [-b keysize] [-c keyfile] [-h] [-k keyname] [-p port]
             [-r randomfile] [-s address] [-t chrootdir] [-u user]

DESCRIPTION

rndc-confgen generates configuration files for rndc. It can be used as a convenient alternative to writing the rndc.conf file and the corresponding controls and key statements in named.conf by hand. Alternatively, it can be run with the -a option to set up a rndc.key file and avoid the need for a rndc.conf file and a controls statement altogether.

OPTIONS

-a

Do automatic rndc configuration. This creates a file rndc.key in /etc (or whatever sysconfdir was specified as when BIND was built) that is read by both rndc and named on startup. The rndc.key file defines a default command channel and authentication key allowing
rndc to communicate with named on the local host with no further configuration.

Running rndc-confgen -a allows BIND 9 and rndc to be used as drop-in replacements for BIND 8 and ndc, with no changes to the existing BIND 8 named.conf file.

If a more elaborate configuration than that generated by
rndc-confgen -a is required, for example if rndc is to be used remotely, you should run rndc-confgen without the -a option and set up a rndc.conf and named.conf as directed.

-b keysize

Specifies the size of the authentication key in bits. Must be
between 1 and 512 bits; the default is 128.

-c keyfile

Used with the -a option to specify an alternate location for
rndc.key.

-h

Prints a short summary of the options and arguments to
rndc-confgen.

-k keyname

Specifies the key name of the rndc authentication key. This must be a valid domain name. The default is rndc-key.

-p port

Specifies the command channel port where named listens for connections from rndc. The default is 953.

-r randomfile

Specifies a source of random data for generating the authorization. If the operating system does not provide a /dev/random or equivalent device, the default source of randomness is keyboard
input. randomdev specifies the name of a character device or file containing random data to be used instead of the default. The
special value keyboard indicates that keyboard input should be used.

-s address

Specifies the IP address where named listens for command channel connections from rndc. The default is the loopback address 127.0.0.1.

-t chrootdir

Used with the -a option to specify a directory where named will run chrooted. An additional copy of the rndc.key will be written relative to this directory so that it will be found by the chrooted named.

-u user

Used with the -a option to set the owner of the rndc.key file generated. If -t is also specified only the file in the chroot area has its owner changed.

EXAMPLES

To allow rndc to be used with no manual configuration, run

rndc-confgen -a

To print a sample rndc.conf file and corresponding controls and key statements to be manually inserted into named.conf, run

rndc-confgen

SEE ALSO

rndc(8), rndc.conf(5), named(8), BIND 9 Administrator Reference Manual.

AUTHOR

Internet Systems Consortium

COPYRIGHT

Copyright (C) 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009 Internet Systems Consortium, Inc. ("ISC")
Copyright (C) 2001, 2003 Internet Software Consortium.

BIND9 Aug 27, 2001 RNDC-CONFGEN(8)