no "." zone file specified and still resolving hostnames ?

[Cricket Liu]

> I'm setting up a dns server on my local linux redhat 7.3.
>
> I just finished reading the dns howto (version 8), and following the
> instructions and got it working for the most part.
>
> However, if i read it correctly, you need the '.' zone file statement in
your
> named.conf to be able to resolve hostnames that are unknown outside your
> local network.
>
> so, to test this theory, i edited my named.conf and commented the zone "."
out,
> restarted named, but i am somehow still able to resolve all hosts on the
> internet ?
>
> how the hell is it finding all the ROOT-SERVERS.NET entries if the file
> listing them doesn't exist (or isn't referenced in the config file).

BIND 9 name servers have a compiled-in root hints file.

cricket

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