Configuring DNS settings on CentOS 7

Setting up DNS (Domain Name System) on your CentOS 7 server is crucial for ensuring that your system can resolve domain names to IP addresses. This guide will walk you through the process of configuring DNS settings on CentOS 7.

Checking current DNS settings

Before making any changes to your DNS settings, it’s essential to check the current configuration on your CentOS 7 server. You can do this by running the following command:

cat /etc/resolv.conf

This command will display the current nameservers that your server is using to resolve domain names.

Editing the resolv.conf file

To edit the resolv.conf file on CentOS 7, you can use the nano text editor or any other text editor of your choice. Run the following command to open the file:

sudo nano /etc/resolv.conf

Within the resolv.conf file, you can specify the nameservers that you want your server to use for DNS resolution. You can add the following lines to the file:

nameserver 8.8.8.8 nameserver 8.8.4.4

Replace the IP addresses above with the IP addresses of the nameservers you want to use.

Testing the DNS configuration

After you have edited the resolv.conf file, you can test the DNS configuration by running the following command:

nslookup example.com

Replace example.com with the domain name you want to resolve. If the DNS configuration is correct, you should see the corresponding IP address for the domain.

Restarting the network service

Once you have made changes to the DNS configuration, you will need to restart the network service for the changes to take effect. Run the following command to restart the network service:

sudo systemctl restart network

After restarting the network service, your CentOS 7 server should now be using the new DNS configuration that you have specified.

Conclusion

Configuring DNS settings on CentOS 7 is a straightforward process that is essential for ensuring that your server can resolve domain names to IP addresses. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can easily set up DNS on your CentOS 7 server and ensure smooth and efficient network communication.