User guide

Configure Network Settings
32 Chapter 1 Command Line Configuration Tasks
Configure Domain Name System (DNS)
The domain name system (DNS) maps domain names to information
associated with these names, such as IP addresses. Configuring the DNS
involves the following tasks:
• Configure a DNS server
• Configure the host table
DNS components include:
• A distributed database consisting of domain names and associated
information.
• A hierarchical system of domain name servers that maintain the
database and use it to respond to requests for information about a
particular domain name, such as its IP address.
• Domain name resolvers that accept requests from users, satisfy
information requests by building and submitting properly formulated
queries to one or more name servers or by retrieving information from a
local host file, return information to users, and cache information for
future use.
There are two types of name servers in the domain name system. Local
servers maintain information for resources within a local zone. It is up to
individual network administrators to determine the scope of a local zone.
Root servers maintain information in higher-level domains than do local
servers.
Typically, when a user requires information about a domain name, the
resolver queries a local server. If local servers cannot provide the
information, root servers are queried next.
Each node in the domain name system has a globally unique domain name
that consists of its own name, which is called a label, and the labels of all
superior nodes.
Following is an example of a domain name. “mn07” is part of the higher-
level domain called “amalgamated.com.” Note that labels are separated by
periods:
#> mn07.amalgamated.com
Configure a DNS Server
To configure a DNS server, enter:
#> set config domain=domain myname=name dns=ip address
where:
• domain is the domain in which the device server will reside
• name is a DNS name for device server
• ip address is the IP address of a name server
For example:
#> set config domain=digi.com myname=poe dns=204.221.1.4
For more information, see "set config" on page 97.