named

Start DNS server with default configuration

$ named

$ named -c [path/to/named.conf]

$ named -4

$ named -6

$ named -p [port]

$ named -f

named [-4|-6] [-c config-file] [-p port] [-f] [-g] [-u user]

named is the DNS (Domain Name System) server daemon from BIND (Berkeley Internet Name Domain). It resolves domain names to IP addresses and vice versa, serving DNS queries from clients.
The server reads zone files and configuration from /etc/named.conf by default. It can act as an authoritative server for domains, a recursive resolver, or both. The daemon typically runs as a system service managed by systemd.

-4

Use IPv4 only, even if IPv6 is available

Use IPv6 only, even if IPv4 is available

Use specified configuration file instead of /etc/named.conf

Listen on specified port instead of default 53

Run in foreground; do not daemonize

Run in foreground with logging to stderr

Run as specified user after binding to privileged ports

Chroot to specified directory after startup

Number of CPUs to use for worker threads

Set debug level (higher = more verbose)

Requires root privileges to bind to port 53. Should run as unprivileged user (-u) after startup for security. Misconfigured DNS servers can be exploited for amplification attacks. Zone file syntax errors prevent startup.

BIND (Berkeley Internet Name Domain) was originally developed at UC Berkeley in the early 1980s. It is the most widely used DNS server software on the Internet. The Internet Systems Consortium (ISC) currently maintains BIND.

rndc(8), dig(1), nslookup(1), named.conf(5)