How to Install CoreDNS on Arch Linux

CoreDNS is an open-source DNS server that can be used as a drop-in replacement for traditional DNS servers. In this tutorial, we will guide you through the steps to install CoreDNS on Arch Linux.

Step 1: Update the System

Before we start the installation, let's make sure the system is up-to-date. Open the terminal and update the system by running the following command:

sudo pacman -Syu 

Enter your password and wait for the system to update.

Step 2: Install CoreDNS

Run the following command to install CoreDNS on Arch Linux:

sudo pacman -S coredns 

Enter your password when prompted and wait for the installation to complete.

Step 3: Configure CoreDNS

CoreDNS can be configured using a file called Corefile, which is located in /etc/coredns. First, backup the default Corefile by running the following command:

sudo cp /etc/coredns/Corefile /etc/coredns/Corefile.bak 

Next, open the Corefile using your preferred text editor.

sudo nano /etc/coredns/Corefile

You will see the default configuration file. Make any necessary changes to suit your needs. Here's a sample configuration file to get you started:

. {
    log
    errors
    cache 30
    forward . 8.8.8.8
}

This configuration file enables logging, caching, and forwards all DNS queries to Google's DNS server.

Step 4: Enable and Start CoreDNS

To enable CoreDNS to start on boot, run the following command:

sudo systemctl enable coredns.service

To start CoreDNS immediately, run the following command:

sudo systemctl start coredns.service

Step 5: Verify CoreDNS

You can verify that CoreDNS is running by using the dig command. Run the following command:

dig google.com 

If CoreDNS is working correctly, you should see the query results.

Conclusion

In this tutorial, we have shown you how to install, configure and verify CoreDNS on Arch Linux. With CoreDNS, you can have a reliable, scalable DNS solution that integrates seamlessly into your infrastructure.