The BIND Boot File

Although the boot file is not actually defined in the RFCs and is not needed in order to be RFC compliant, it is described here for completeness. This file is actually a part of the BIND specific implementation of DNS. Microsoft DNS can be configured to use a boot file if you are going to administer it through changes to the text files instead of using the DNS Administrator UI.

This file controls the startup behavior of the DNS server. Commands must start at the beginning of a line and no spaces may precede commands. Recognized commands are: "directory, cache, primary, and secondary." The syntax for this file is as follows:

Directory Command

Specifies a directory where other files referred to in the boot file can be found.

directory <directory>

Example:

directory c:\winnts\system32\dns

Cache Command

Specifies a file used to help the DNS service contact name servers for the root domain. This command and the file it refers to MUST be present. A cache file suitable for use on the Internet is provided with Windows NT 4.0.

cache . <filename>

Example:

cache . cache

Primary Command

Specifies a domain for which this name server is authoritative and a database file which contains the resource records for that domain (that is zone file). Multiple primary command records could exist in the boot file.

primary <domain> <filename>

Example:

primary microsoft.com microsoft.dns

primary dev.microsoft.com dev.dns

Secondary Command

Specifies a domain for which this name server is authoritative, and a list of master server IP addresses from which to attempt downloading the zone information, rather than reading it from a file. It also defines the name of the local file for caching this zone. Multiple secondary command records could exist in the boot file.

secondary <domain> <hostlist> <local filename>

Example:

secondary test.microsoft.com 157.55.200.100 test.dns

Forwarders Command

Specifies another server that is willing to try resolving recursive queries on behalf of the system.

forwarders <hostlist>

Example:

forwarders 157.55.200.100 157.55.200.101

Slave Command

Specifies that the use of forwarders is the only possible way to resolve queries. Can only follow a forwarders command.

slave

Example:

forwarders 157.55.200.100 157.55.200.101

slave