Take command of DNS with QuickDNS 3.5

QuickDNS 3.5 from Men&Mice provides a simple solution to DNS management, eliminating the need to edit domain configuration files manually. One of the most complicated tasks to perform in Linux is setting up and maintaining its default DNS server (named) so that other hosts on a network can query it for name resolution. The challenge is due to the complex nature of named's configuration file, named.conf. The only Linux tools available to help you set up this configuration file are man (to read the manual page that details the syntax of named.conf) and text editors such as vi and emacs (to edit the file).

QuickDNS is a client/server application. The product's server component, called QuickDNS Remote, is installed on a Linux server designated to provide DNS services for other computers. The client component, QuickDNS Manager, is used to configure the Linux DNS server and must be installed on a Windows- or Macintosh-based client computer.

How it works
QuickDNS doesn't replace Linux's existing DNS server component (named); QuickDNS Remote merely accepts requests for named configuration queries and updates. QuickDNS Manager requests information on the configuration of named configuration, and the QuickDNS Remote daemon retrieves the information and sends it back to the Manager. Later, If QuickDNS Manager subsequently updates the configuration information, the Remote daemon will update the named configuration files and restart the named daemon on the Linux server.

QuickDNS 3.5 requirements and specs: Platform(s): Red Hat Linux 6.2/7.x and SuSE Linux 6.3/6.4/7.0 Processor: Pentium RAM: 64MB Disk space: 10MB CD-ROM required: No Downloadable full version: Yes

This dual-component approach is somewhat different from competing Linux DNS server products such as DNS Commander that function as drop-in replacements for named. But unlike these products, QuickDNS is more affordable and has no restrictions on the number of DNS zones or host entries it will serve.

Testing
For our tests, we installed the QuickDNS Remote component on a Dell PowerEdge 1400 server running Red Hat 7, and the management component on a Dell Optiplex GX1 PC running Windows 98. The installation on the Linux server was somewhat complex, as it requires that named is installed and functional. After installation, QuickDNS parses the existing named.conf file to create a set of configuration files in a format it understands. Installation of the management component on our Windows box was straightforward and quick, with no surprises.

We used QuickDNS to create several primary and secondary domain zones. For less experienced users, QuickDNS's wizard helps with setting up a zone--you just enter the requested data and QuickDNS will create a zone automatically. The wizard also helps with processes such as adding a static host IP address or an MX (mail exchanger) resource record (to define where to deliver mail for a zone).

Additional features
QuickDNS lets you manage multiple servers from a single interface. You can quickly drill down through a list of servers to view the zones supported by each server. Double-click on a zone, and QuickDNS presents a zone information window with details of all DNS resource records associated with that zone. Zone details can be edited directly from this dialog, but resource records cannot be deleted.

QuickDNS also includes two useful reporting features: statistics and server log. The statistics feature provides a short graphical report of named statistics, such as how many queries were received and replied to, and how many entries were supplied out of the DNS cache maintained by named. The server log feature displays the named log file; you can designate the information recorded by named for this log via the QuickDNS Server Options dialog. And although the software lets you clear the log, you can't print it--a minor inconvenience, especially if you're debugging a DNS problem.

Client platforms Our only real complaint with QuickDNS is that it lacks a management program that runs under X; the QuickDNS Manager component runs only on Windows or the Mac OS. This makes QuickDNS of little benefit for companies running Linux-only environments, or in situations where a Windows machine may not be available. The addition of an X-based client interface would greatly enhance the usefulness of the product.

Bottom line
QuickDNS is an easy-to-use, affordable tool that makes administering one or more DNS zones on a Linux server virtually effortless. Such a tool is especially useful in large, corporate environments where a network administrator may have to maintain several--if not dozens--of DNS zones. With QuickDNS, even system administrators new to Linux can easily set up and maintain DNS servers with nominal effort, freeing up time for other system management tasks.

Michael P. Deignan is a freelance journalist and a contributor to ZDNet TechUpdate.

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