Linux/Netzwerk/Konfiguration/Defining the (DNS) Nameservers

Defining the (DNS) Nameservers

Before a computer can connect to an external network resource (say, for example, a web server), it must have a means of converting any alpha-numeric names (e.g. wiki.debian.org) into numeric network addresses (e.g. 140.211.166.4). (The Internet uses these structured numeric IP addresses as network addresses.)

The C library and other resolver libraries look to /etc/resolv.conf for a list of nameservers. In the simplest case, that is the file to edit to set the list of name servers. But note that various other programs for dynamic configuration will be happy to overwrite your settings: # The resolvconf program

The network-manager daemon
DHCP clients

In most situations, the file to edit is the configuration file for such a program.

In the most complex situations, using resolvconf really is the way to go, though in more simple configurations it is probably overkill.

The resolv.conf configuration file

The configuration file resolv.conf at /etc/resolv.conf contains information that allows a computer connected to a network to resolve names into addresses. (Note: Do not confuse this configuration file with the program resolvconf, which unfortunately has a nearly identical name.)

The resolv.conf file typically contains the IP addresses of nameservers (DNS name resolvers) that will attempt to translate names into addresses for any node available on the network. There will be a line or lines that look like this:

nameserver 12.34.56.78
nameserver 12.34.56.79

In this example, the system is using nameservers at the IP addresses 12.34.56.78 and 12.34.56.79. Simply edit the file and enter the IP addresses of the nameservers you need to use after each nameserver. Add more nameserver lines if you have more nameservers. Don't use this method if you have the resolvconf program installed.

The resolv.conf configuration file has many other options for defining how resolver looks up names. See man resolv.conf for details.

The resolvconf program

The resolvconf program keeps track of system information about the currently available nameservers. It should not be confused with the configuration file resolv.conf, which unfortunately has a nearly identical name. The resolvconf program is optional on a Debian system.

The configuration file resolv.conf contains information about the nameservers to be used by the system. However, when multiple programs need to dynamically modify the resolv.conf configuration file they can step on each other and the file can become out-of-sync. The resolvconf program addresses this problem. It acts as an intermediary between programs that supply nameserver information (e.g. dhcp clients) and programs that use nameserver information (e.g. resolver).

When resolvconf is properly installed, the resolv.conf configuration file at /etc/resolv.conf is replaced by a symbolic link to /etc/resolvconf/run/resolv.conf and the resolver instead uses the configuration file that is dynamically generated by resolvconf at /etc/resolvconf/run/resolv.conf.

The resolvconf program is generally only necessary when a system has multiple programs that need to dynamically modify the nameserver information. In a simple system where the nameservers do not change often or are only changed by one program, the resolv.conf configuration file is adequate.

If the resolvconf program is installed, you should not edit the resolv.conf configuration file manually as it will be dynamically changed by programs in the system. If you need to manually define the nameservers (as with a static interface), add a line something like the following to the interfaces configuration file at /etc/network/interfaces:

dns-nameservers 12.34.56.78 12.34.56.79

Place the line indented within an iface stanza, e.g., right after the gateway line. Enter the IP addresses of the nameservers you need to use after dns-nameservers. Put all of them on one line separated by spaces. Don't forget the "s" on the end of dns-nameservers.

The resolvconf program is a fairly new addition to Debian and many older programs need to be updated or reconfigured to work properly with it. If you have problems, see /usr/share/doc/resolvconf/README. It has lots of information on making other programs get along with resolvconf.

DNS configuration for NetworkManager

NetworkManager will override dhcp settings, overwriting resolv.conf even if you've configured DNS in /etc/dhcp/dhclient.conf, e.g. causing DNS to first search the local domain, which may have to time out before DNS resolution continues causing lengthy DNS resolution times. You can get an idea of what NetworkManager thinks the settings should be by executing nm-tool at the command line.

You may configure these settings using a GUI by launching nm-connection-editor which currently (13.11.23) isn't to be found in System Tools → Administration menu, rather it must be launched by hand from the command line. After launching: # Choose a connection (from the Wired or Wireless tab) and click Edit.

Click on the IPv4 Settings tab
Choose 'Automatic (DHCP) addresses only' instead of just 'Automatic (DHCP)'.
Enter the DNS servers in the “DNS servers” field, separated by spaces (e.g. 208.67.222.222 for OpenDNS).
Click “Apply.”

NetworkManager saves these settings in /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/name-of-connection. Example /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/Wired connection 1 :

[802-3-ethernet]
duplex=full
mac-address=XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX

[connection]
id=Wired connection 1
uuid=xxx-xxxxxx-xxxxxx-xxxxxx-xxx
type=802-3-ethernet
timestamp=1385213042

[ipv6]
method=auto

[ipv4]
method=auto
dns=208.67.222.222;
ignore-auto-dns=true

Running nm-tool again should show that NetworkManager now has the right idea of how your DNS should be resolved.

DHCP Client Configuration

Setting additional DNS Servers

Example: dhclient3 uses /etc/dhcp/dhclient.conf. The setting you want is

supersede domain-name-servers 12.34.56.78, 12.34.56.79;

or perhaps

prepend domain-name-servers 12.34.56.78, 12.34.56.79;

Setting additional search domains

adding search domains for VPNs or local virtual networks:

append domain-name " virt vpn";

Note the leading space since the string is literally appended to the search domain provided by other configurations.

See the dhclient.conf(5) manual page for details.