RNDC-CONFGEN(8)               BIND9               RNDC-CONFGEN(8)



NAME
       rndc-confgen - rndc key generation tool

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

DESCRIPTION
       rndc-confgen generates configuration files for rndc. It
       can be used as a convenient alternative to writing the
       rndc.conf file and the corresponding controls and key
       statements in 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 file and a controls statement
       altogether.

OPTIONS
       -a     Do automatic rndc configuration. This creates a
              file rndc.key in /etc (or whatever sysconfdir was
              specified as when BIND was built) that is read by
              both rndc and named on startup. The rndc.key file
              defines a default command channel and
              authentication key allowing rndc to communicate
              with named on the local host with no further
              configuration.

              Running rndc-confgen -a allows BIND 9 and rndc to
              be used as drop-in replacements for BIND 8 and ndc,
              with no changes to the existing BIND 8 named.conf
              file.

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

       -b keysize
              Specifies the size of the authentication key in
              bits. Must be between 1 and 512 bits; the default
              is 128.

       -c keyfile
              Used with the -a option to specify an alternate
              location for rndc.key.

       -h     Prints a short summary of the options and arguments
              to rndc-confgen.

       -k keyname
              Specifies the key name of the rndc authentication
              key. This must be a valid domain name. The default
              is rndc-key.

       -p port
              Specifies the command channel port where named
              listens for connections from rndc. The default is
              953.

       -r randomfile
              Specifies a source of random data for generating
              the authorization. If the operating system does not
              provide a /dev/random or equivalent device, the
              default source of randomness is keyboard input.
              randomdev specifies the name of a character device
              or file containing random data to be used instead
              of the default. The special value keyboard
              indicates that keyboard input should be used.

       -s address
              Specifies the IP address where named listens for
              command channel connections from rndc. The default
              is the loopback address 127.0.0.1.

       -t chrootdir
              Used with the -a option to specify a directory
              where named will run chrooted. An additional copy
              of the rndc.key will be written relative to this
              directory so that it will be found by the chrooted
              named.

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

EXAMPLES
       To allow rndc to be used with no manual configuration, run

       rndc-confgen -a

       To print a sample rndc.conf file and corresponding
       controls and key statements to be manually inserted into
       named.conf, run

       rndc-confgen

SEE ALSO
       rndc(8), rndc.conf(5), named(8), BIND 9 Administrator
       Reference Manual.

AUTHOR
       Internet Systems Consortium



BIND9                      Aug 27, 2001           RNDC-CONFGEN(8)