Featured resource
Forrester Wave Report 2025
Pluralsight named a Leader in the Forrester Wave™

Our tech skill development platform earned the highest scores possible across 11 criteria.

Learn more
  • Labs icon Lab
  • Cloud
Google Cloud Platform icon
Labs

DNS and BIND: Create a Forward Zone File

Zone files are a key component of configuring DNS servers. In this lab we will configure a forward zone file, and add TTL, SOA, NS and A records. This allows a name server to resolve a query, given the hostname, and returns the IP address. This is the most common type of DNS query.

Google Cloud Platform icon
Labs

Path Info

Level
Clock icon Intermediate
Duration
Clock icon 15m
Published
Clock icon Oct 18, 2019

Contact sales

By filling out this form and clicking submit, you acknowledge our privacy policy.

Table of Contents

  1. Challenge

    Install and Start the Named Service, then Create the File /var/named/fwd.labdomain.com.db

    yum install -y bind
    systemctl start named
    vim /var/named/fwd.labdomain.com.db
    
  2. Challenge

    Add the TTL and SOA Records to the Zone File

    
    $TTL 86400  
    
    @       IN      SOA     nameserver.labdomain.com.     root.labdomain.com.      (
                                   10030   ;Serial
                                   3600    ;Refresh
                                   1800    ;Retry
                                   604800  ;Expiry
                                   86400   ;Minimum TTL
    )
    
  3. Challenge

    Add the NS Record to the Zone File

    @       IN      NS      nameserver.labdomain.com.
    
  4. Challenge

    Add the A Records to the Zone File

    nameserver      IN      A       172.31.18.93
    mailprod        IN      A       172.31.18.30
    mailbackup      IN      A       172.31.18.72
    
  5. Challenge

    Add the CNAME Record to the Zone File

    dns     IN      CNAME   nameserver.labdomain.com.
    
  6. Challenge

    Save the File and Quit the Editor

    :wq
    

Pluralsight Skills gives leaders confidence they have the skills needed to execute technology strategy. Technology teams can benchmark expertise across roles, speed up release cycles and build reliable, secure products. By leveraging our expert content, skill assessments and one-of-a-kind analytics, keep up with the pace of change, put the right people on the right projects and boost productivity. It's the most effective path to developing tech skills at scale.

What's a lab?

Hands-on Labs are real environments created by industry experts to help you learn. These environments help you gain knowledge and experience, practice without compromising your system, test without risk, destroy without fear, and let you learn from your mistakes. Hands-on Labs: practice your skills before delivering in the real world.

Provided environment for hands-on practice

We will provide the credentials and environment necessary for you to practice right within your browser.

Guided walkthrough

Follow along with the author’s guided walkthrough and build something new in your provided environment!

Did you know?

On average, you retain 75% more of your learning if you get time for practice.