Configuring a Caching Name Server

It's entirely possible to run a name server that is not authoritative for any zones. This is what's known as a caching name server, and its job consists solely of making DNS queries when prompted by clients and storing the results for later use. This is the opposite effect of the forward only; option that we discussed earlier in this chapter: Whereas a forward only; name server would pass off all requests to its forwarder to handle, a caching name server performs all requests that are asked of it by itself and caches the results. Other name servers can use this server as a forwarder, leveraging the work that it has already done.

To configure a caching name server, simply omit any zone statements from your named.conf ...

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