can't resolve local domain name with bind9

I'm in the process of replacing my Windows server by an Ubuntu server. I've been at it for a week now and i'm making significant progress. However i'm stuck on this particular issue. I have a feeling i'm missing something obvious since it looks pretty simple, but i should point out i'm a total Linux beginner, and DNS configuration isn't my strong suit either.

Anyway, here is my issue :

I have a local webserver in need on local dns resolution, so i installed bind9 and configured it as best as i could. Right now, it's resolving the FQDN of my server (srvubuntu.domain.local) but not the domain name (domain.local). I guess something (not much) is missing in my config.

here are my config files :

/etc/bind/named.conf.local

//
// Do any local configuration here
//
// Consider adding the 1918 zones here, if they are not used in your
// organization
//include "/etc/bind/zones.rfc1918";
zone "domain.local" { type master; file "/etc/bind/db.domain.local";
};
zone "1.168.192.in-addr.arpa" { type master; file "/etc/bind/db.1.168.192.in-addr.arpa";
};

/etc/bind/db.domain.local

$TTL 10800
@ IN SOA srvubuntu.domain.local. root.domain.local. ( 20180202; 3h; 1; 1w; 1h);
@ IN NS srvubuntu.domain.local.
srvubuntu IN A 192.168.1.251

/etc/bind/db.1.168.192.in-addr.arpa

$TTL 10800
$ORIGIN 1.168.192.in-addr.arpa.
@ IN SOA srvubuntu.domain.local. root.domain.local. ( 20180202; 3h; 1h; 1w; 1h);
@ IN NS srvubuntu.domain.local.
251 IN PTR srvubuntu.domain.local.

Can someone point me to my mistake(s) ?

1 Answer

For the /etc/bind/db.domain.local file do this:

$TTL 10800
@ IN SOA domain.local. root.domain.local. ( 20180202; 3h; 1; 1w; 1h); IN A 192.168.1.251
@ IN NS srvubuntu.domain.local.
srvubuntu IN A 192.168.1.251

Your reverse file looks O.K., although I don't use an $ORIGIN line in mine.

I am doing pretty much the exact same thing as you:

doug@s15:~$ nslookup s15
Server: 192.168.111.1
Address: 192.168.111.1#53
Name: s15.smythies.com
Address: 192.168.111.112
doug@s15:~$ nslookup s15.smythies.com
Server: 192.168.111.1
Address: 192.168.111.1#53
Name: s15.smythies.com
Address: 192.168.111.112

See also the Ubuntu server guide.

EDIT: Please note that on my LAN my client computers know to automatically append "smythies.com" to DNS requests because my DHCP server has this line in it's /etc/dhcp/dhcpd.conf file:

option domain-name "smythies.com";