# Bind9

Bind9 is a full-featured DNS server packaged with a Webmin web interface for easy local network management. It is open source and self-hosted, installable on Docker Hub, Kubernetes (Helm) and Unraid.

Canonical page: https://ourlocalhost.com/app/1390/bind9

## Description

BIND 9 (Berkeley Internet Name Domain) is a full-featured DNS server packaged with a Webmin web interface for easy local network management. It can serve as an authoritative nameserver, recursive resolver, or DNS forwarder, giving homelab users a lightweight, self-hosted DNS solution with a familiar web-based control panel.

## Platform availability

Available on 2 of 9 platforms: Unraid, Helm.

## Health score

75/100 (Good), based on 3 of 4 factors.
- Maintained: 100 (last commit 16 days ago)
- Popular: 58 (780 GitHub stars)
- Easy to install: 45 (2 install platforms, install notes, Docker image)

## Links

- Documentation: https://kb.isc.org/docs/aa-01615
- Docker Hub: https://hub.docker.com/r/pwa666/bind9
- Kubernetes (Helm): https://artifacthub.io/packages/helm/unxwares/bind9
- Official website: https://www.isc.org/bind/
- Unraid: https://ca.unraid.net/apps/bind9-0dq87xo1uev5ko?q=Bind9
- GitHub: https://github.com/isc-projects/bind9

## Common questions

### What should I configure in rndc.conf for Bind9?

Create rndc.conf with a strong rndc_key and set default-server to your BIND server, usually 127.0.0.1. Keep the file private because that key lets rndc send reload or shutdown commands.

### How can I diagnose broken DNS settings in Bind9?

Add a logging category so BIND writes startup and lookup errors to syslog or a log file. Without readable logs, broken DNS settings or connection errors are very hard to diagnose.

### What files do I need for Bind9 DNS over TLS?

If you enable DNS over TLS, enter exact valid paths for the key-file, cert-file, and dhparam-file in the tls section. Wrong paths or missing files can stop BIND from providing encrypted DNS connections.

## Alternatives

- Unbound: Unbound is a validating, recursive, and caching DNS resolver that you can self-host to run your own DNS server at home.
- dnsmasq: Dnsmasq is a lightweight Domain Name System (DNS) forwarder and Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server designed for small to med…

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Source: Our Local Host (https://ourlocalhost.com/app/1390/bind9), the self-hosted and open-source app directory.