Man page - rndc-confgen(8)

Packages contains this manual

Package:  bind9-utils
apt-get install bind9-utils

Manuals in package:
• dnssec-dsfromkey(1)
• named-makejournal(1)
• dnssec-settime(1)
• named-checkconf(1)
• dnssec-revoke(1)
• named-checkzone(1)
• dnssec-ksr(1)
• dnssec-cds(1)
• dnssec-keyfromlabel(1)
• dnssec-signzone(1)
• dnssec-verify(1)
• rndc-confgen(8)
• dnssec-keygen(1)
• rndc(8)
• named-compilezone(1)
Documentations in package:
• bind9-utils

Manual

RNDC-CONFGEN

NAME
SYNOPSIS
DESCRIPTION
OPTIONS
EXAMPLES
SEE ALSO
Author
Copyright

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NAME

rndc-confgen - rndc key generation tool

SYNOPSIS

rndc-confgen [ -a ] [ -A algorithm] [ -b keysize] [ -c keyfile] [ -h ] [ -k keyname] [ -p port] [ -s address] [ -t chrootdir] [ -u user]

DESCRIPTION

rndc-confgen generates configuration files for rndc <#std-iscman-rndc>. It can be used as a convenient alternative to writing the rndc.conf <# std-iscman-rndc.conf> file and the corresponding controls and key statements in named.conf <#std-iscman-named.conf> by hand. Alternatively, it can be run with the -a option to set up a rndc.key file and avoid the need for a rndc.conf <#std-iscman-rndc.conf> file and a controls statement altogether.

OPTIONS

-a

This option sets automatic rndc <#std-iscman-rndc> configuration, which creates a file /etc/bind/rndc.key that is read by both rndc <#std-iscman-rndc> and named <# std-iscman-named> on startup. The rndc.key file defines a default command channel and authentication key allowing rndc <# std-iscman-rndc> to communicate with named <#std-iscman-named> on the local host with no further configuration.

If a more elaborate configuration than that generated by rndc-confgen -a is required, for example if rndc is to be used remotely, run rndc-confgen without the -a option and set up rndc.conf <#std-iscman-rndc.conf> and named.conf <# std-iscman-named.conf> as directed.

-A algorithm

This option specifies the algorithm to use for the TSIG key. Available choices are: hmac-md5, hmac-sha1, hmac-sha224, hmac-sha256, hmac-sha384, and hmac-sha512. The default is hmac-sha256.

-b keysize

This option specifies the size of the authentication key in bits. The size must be between 1 and 512 bits; the default is the hash size.

-c keyfile

This option is used with the -a option to specify an alternate location for rndc.key .

-h

This option prints a short summary of the options and arguments to rndc-confgen .

-k keyname

This option specifies the key name of the rndc <# std-iscman-rndc> authentication key. This must be a valid domain name. The default is rndc-key .

-p port

This option specifies the command channel port where named <# std-iscman-named> listens for connections from rndc <# std-iscman-rndc>. The default is 953.

-q

This option prevets printing the written path in automatic configuration mode.

-s address

This option specifies the IP address where named <# std-iscman-named> listens for command-channel connections from rndc <#std-iscman-rndc>. The default is the loopback address 127.0.0.1.

-t chrootdir

This option is used with the -a option to specify a directory where named <#std-iscman-named> runs chrooted. An additional copy of the rndc.key is written relative to this directory, so that it is found by the chrooted named <#std-iscman-named>.

-u user

This option is used with the -a option to set the owner of the generated rndc.key file. If -t is also specified, only the file in the chroot area has its owner changed.

EXAMPLES

To allow rndc <#std-iscman-rndc> to be used with no manual configuration, run:

rndc-confgen -a

To print a sample rndc.conf <#std-iscman-rndc.conf> file and the corresponding controls and key statements to be manually inserted into named.conf <#std-iscman-named.conf>, run:

rndc-confgen

SEE ALSO

rndc(8) <#std-iscman-rndc>, rndc.conf(5) <#std-iscman-rndc.conf>, named(8) <#std-iscman-named>, BIND 9 Administrator Reference Manual.

Author

Internet Systems Consortium

Copyright

2026, Internet Systems Consortium

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