Where Does BIND Store Zones and Config?
BIND nameserver config and zone file folder paths on Linux for authoritative and caching DNS use. Plus migration notes.
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BIND keeps daemon config in /etc/bind with named.conf at its root. That file lists zones, views, and include paths. The rndc key beside it controls the running server.
Zone files live under /var/cache/bind or /var/lib/bind depending on distro. Dynamic zones write journals beside them. Back up the config folder with zone files and keys. Zones without the config lose view and ACL context. Views split answers by client network. DNSSEC keys sign zones for validation chains. Slave zones transfer on notify.
Where BIND stores this, by platform
/etc/bind/named.conf
named.conf with zones, views, and include paths. Check with named-checkconf before reloading. Keep with zone files and keys.
/var/cache/bind (zone files)
Master zones and transfer journals on Debian layouts. Red Hat uses /var/named instead. Copy with the daemon stopped for consistency.
Frequently asked questions
what do i back up for a BIND server move
Copy /etc/bind with zone files under /var/cache/bind or /var/lib/bind. The config names each zone file. Keys in rndc.key control the daemon. All three restore DNS.
where are BIND zone files stored
Open named.conf in /etc/bind to read zone file paths. Masters keep writable zones, secondaries cache transfers. The config is the reliable pointer across distros.
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