Setup DNS Server on Ubuntu Server

1. Install BIND9

Update your packages and install the BIND9 service:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install bind9 bind9utils bind9-doc

2. Configure the Zone

Open the local configuration file to define your domain:

sudo nano /etc/bind/named.conf.local

Paste this block inside, replacing “example.com” with your domain:

zone "example.com" {
    type master;
    file "/etc/bind/://example.com";
};

3. Create the Record File

Create the zone file from a template and open it:

sudo cp /etc/bind/db.local /etc/bind/://example.com
sudo nano /etc/bind/://example.com

Update the records with your server IP:

$TTL    604800
@       IN      SOA     ://example.com. ://example.com. (
                     2023101001 ; Serial
                         604800 ; Refresh
                          86400 ; Retry
                        2419200 ; Expire
                         604800 ) ; Cache TTL
;
@       IN      NS      ://example.com.
ns1     IN      A       192.168.1.10
www     IN      A       192.168.1.10

4. Set Up Forwarders

To let the server resolve external sites, edit the options file:

sudo nano /etc/bind/named.conf.options

Add these IPs to the forwarders block:

forwarders {
    1.1.1.1;
    8.8.8.8;
};

5. Restart and Apply

Verify your syntax and restart the service:

sudo named-checkconf
sudo systemctl restart bind9

Do you want me to add the UFW firewall commands to this list so the DNS port is actually open?