Topic: disable the local DNS

[Scott Smith]

I have a need to completely disable the local DNS resolution. I have another server on the network providing DNS, but if I leave bind running on the SME server it becomes difficult to resolve names. Examples:

DomainName = mydomain.com
LocalDomainPrefix = net12345.
SystemName = sys321

On the network there exist other servers by the name of sys### that I need to be able to reference by their system name only. Due to reasons that I don't need to go into, I cannot reference these systems by their fqdn.

Here's the problem. If I attempt to access sys111 the local DNS attempts to resolve the request. And of course, it knows nothing of sys111. And even if I use the fqdn (sys111.net12345.mydomain.com) it will not resolve, because SME's DNS thinks that should be a local system.

Now, if I tweak the settings like this:

DomainName = net12345.mydomain.com
LocalDomainPrefix = sme.

Then, though I still can't resolve sys111, I can resolve the fqdn because the SME DNS doesn't consider sys111.net12345.mydomain.com to be a local address (due to the absence of the "sme." segment.) The fqdn request is forwarded to the local DNS server and all is well.

Problem is, I can't use the fqdn. I am required (by specifications) to use only the server name -- sys111.

I'm thinking that if I could disable bind (named) completely and setup /etc/resolv.conf with a nameserver entry pointing to the other DNS server, and setup /etc/hosts with entries for the local system aliases (ie, www + ftp + etc) that my problem might be solved.

1. Is this correct?

2. If I do this, will I break anything else in SME due to the absence of the local DNS service?

TIA

Scott

[Terry Brummell]

Can't you just add your networks DNS server as the "Master DNS server" in the config screen?  Then SME will use that DNS server for all lookups, instead of trying to resolve the name itself?  Just my thoughts.

Terry

[Scott Smith]

No, because SME does not "use that DNS server for all lookups." When a forwarder is defined, it is used to resolve whatever is not considered local. So a name like sys111 is considered to be a local system and the request is never forwarded. And if the local domain is net12345.mydomain.com, which it must be for other reasons, then even a request to resolve sys111.net12345.mydomain.com is resolved locally.

What I need is a way to force SME to actually use another DNS server for ALL lookups (for everything not EXPLICITLY defined locally, that is.)

Scott