DOKK / manpages / debian 10 / pdns-recursor / pdns_recursor.1.en
PDNS_RECURSOR(1) PowerDNS Recursor PDNS_RECURSOR(1)

pdns_recursor - The PowerDNS Recursor binary

pdns_recursor [OPTION]...

pdns_recursor is a high performance, simple and secure recursing nameserver. It currently powers hundreds of millions internet connections.

The recursor is configured via a configuration file, but each item in that file can be overridden on the command line.

This manpage lists the core set of features needed to get the PowerDNS Recursor working, for full and up to date details head to https://doc.powerdns.com/.

To listen on 192.0.2.53 and allow the 192.0.2.0/24 subnet to recurse, and run as in the background, execute:

# pdns_recursor --local-address=192.0.2.53 --allow-from=192.0.2.0/24 --daemon


To stop the recursor by hand, run:

# rec_control quit


However, the recommended way of starting and stopping the recursor is to use the init.d script or systemctl(1).

For authoritative listing of options, consult the online documentation at <https://doc.powerdns.com/>

If set, only allow these comma separated networks, with network mask to recurse. For example: 192.0.2.0/24,203.0.113.128/25.
Where authzone is <zonename>=<filename>. Serve zonename from filename authoritatively. For example: ds9a.nl=/var/zones/ds9a.nl,powerdns.com=/var/zones/powerdns.com.
chroot the process to directory.
Timeout in seconds when talking to TCP clients.
Location of configuration directory (recursor.conf), the default depends on the SYSCONFDIR option at build-time, which is usually /etc/powerdns. The default can be found with pdns_recursor --config | grep ' config-dir='.
Operate as a daemon.
Which domains we only accept delegations from (a Verisign special).
Read new entropy from file, defaults to /dev/urandom.
If set, this flag will export the hostnames and IP addresses mentioned in /etc/hosts.
Where forwardzone is <zonename>=<address>. Queries for zonename will be forwarded to address. address should be an IP address, not a hostname (to prevent chicken and egg problems). Example: forward-zones= ds9a.nl=213.244.168.210, powerdns.com=127.0.0.1.
Similar to --forward-zones, but read the options from filename. filename should contain one zone per line, like: ds9a.nl=213.244.168.210.
Show a summary of options.
Load root hints from this filename
Listen on address, separated by spaces or commas.
Listen on port.
If we should log rather common errors.
Maximum number of entries in the main cache.
maximum number of seconds to keep a negative cached entry in memory.
Maximum number of simultaneous TCP clients.
If set, maximum number of TCP sessions per client (IP address).
Use address as Source IP address when sending queries.
Send out local IPv6 queries from address. Disabled by default, which also disables outgoing IPv6 support. A useful setting is '::0'.
Suppress logging of questions and answers.
Return text WHen queried for 'id.server' TXT, defaults to hostname.
On by default, this makes the server authoritatively aware of: 10.in-addr.arpa, 168.192.in-addr.arpa and 16-31.172.in-addr.arpa, which saves load on the AS112 servers. Individual parts of these zones can still be loaded or forwarded.
If set, change group id to gid for more security.
If set, change user id to uid for more security.
If set, only use a single socket for outgoing queries.
The controlsocket will live in directory.
If non-zero, assume spoofing after this many near misses.
if we should output heaps of logging.
text WILL be reported on version.pdns or version.bind queries.

rec_control(1) systemctl(1)

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January 31, 2019 4.1