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

[Mark_Andrews at isc.org]

> 
> Hi,
> 
> 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.

	BIND 9 has a builtin hints zone it uses if you havn't specified 
	a root zone.
> 
> so, to test this theory, i edited my named.conf and commented the zone "." ou
> t,
> 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).
> 
> this is my named.conf:
> 
> 
> options {
>         directory "/var/named";
> 
>         // Uncommenting this might help if you have to go through a
>         // firewall and things are not working out.  But you probably
>         // need to talk to your firewall admin.
> 
>         // query-source port 53;
> };
> 
> controls {
>         inet 127.0.0.1 allow { localhost; } keys { rndc_key; };
> };
> 
> key "rndc_key" {
>         algorithm hmac-md5;
>         secret "c3Ryb25nIGVub3VnaCBmb3IgYSBtYW4gYnV0IG1hZGUgZm9yIGEgd29tYW4K"
> ;
> };
> 
> //zone "." {
> //       type hint;
> //      file "root.hints";
> //};
> 
> zone "0.0.127.in-addr.arpa" {
>         type master;
>         file "pz/127.0.0";
> };
> 
> zone "linux.bogus" {
>         type master;
>         notify no;
>         file "pz/linux.bogus";
> };
> 
> 
> 
> Thanks for letting me know,
> 
> 
> 
> regards,
> 
> Tom.
> 
--
Mark Andrews, Internet Software Consortium
1 Seymour St., Dundas Valley, NSW 2117, Australia
PHONE: +61 2 9871 4742                 INTERNET: Mark.Andrews at isc.org