RNDC-CONFGEN(8) BIND 9 RNDC-CONFGEN(8)
NAME
rndc-confgen - rndc key generation tool
SYNOPSIS
rndc-confgen [-a] [-A algorithm] [-b keysize] [-c keyfile] [-h] [-k key-
name] [-p port] [-s address] [-t chrootdir] [-u user]
DESCRIPTION
rndc-confgen generates configuration files for rndc <#std-iscman-rndc>.
It can be used as a convenient alternative to writing the rndc.conf <#
std-iscman-rndc.conf> file and the corresponding controls and key state-
ments in named.conf <#std-iscman-named.conf> by hand. Alternatively, it
can be run with the -a option to set up a rndc.key file and avoid the
need for a rndc.conf <#std-iscman-rndc.conf> file and a controls state-
ment altogether.
OPTIONS
-a This option sets automatic rndc <#std-iscman-rndc> configuration,
which creates a file /etc/bind/rndc.key that is read by both rndc
<#std-iscman-rndc> and named <#std-iscman-named> on startup. The
rndc.key file defines a default command channel and authentica-
tion key allowing rndc <#std-iscman-rndc> to communicate with
named <#std-iscman-named> on the local host with no further con-
figuration.
If a more elaborate configuration than that generated by
rndc-confgen -a is required, for example if rndc is to be used
remotely, run rndc-confgen without the -a option and set up
rndc.conf <#std-iscman-rndc.conf> and named.conf <#
std-iscman-named.conf> as directed.
-A algorithm
This option specifies the algorithm to use for the TSIG key.
Available choices are: hmac-md5, hmac-sha1, hmac-sha224,
hmac-sha256, hmac-sha384, and hmac-sha512. The default is
hmac-sha256.
-b keysize
This option specifies the size of the authentication key in bits.
The size must be between 1 and 512 bits; the default is the hash
size.
-c keyfile
This option is used with the -a option to specify an alternate
location for rndc.key.
-h This option prints a short summary of the options and arguments
to rndc-confgen.
-k keyname
This option specifies the key name of the rndc <#std-iscman-rndc>
authentication key. This must be a valid domain name. The default
is rndc-key.
-p port
This option specifies the command channel port where named <#
std-iscman-named> listens for connections from rndc <#
std-iscman-rndc>. The default is 953.
-q This option prevets printing the written path in automatic con-
figuration mode.
-s address
This option specifies the IP address where named <#
std-iscman-named> listens for command-channel connections from
rndc <#std-iscman-rndc>. The default is the loopback address
127.0.0.1.
-t chrootdir
This option is used with the -a option to specify a directory
where named <#std-iscman-named> runs chrooted. An additional copy
of the rndc.key is written relative to this directory, so that it
is found by the chrooted named <#std-iscman-named>.
-u user
This option is used with the -a option to set the owner of the
generated rndc.key file. If -t is also specified, only the file
in the chroot area has its owner changed.
EXAMPLES
To allow rndc <#std-iscman-rndc> to be used with no manual configura-
tion, run:
rndc-confgen -a
To print a sample rndc.conf <#std-iscman-rndc.conf> file and the corre-
sponding controls and key statements to be manually inserted into
named.conf <#std-iscman-named.conf>, run:
rndc-confgen
SEE ALSO
rndc(8) <#std-iscman-rndc>, rndc.conf(5) <#std-iscman-rndc.conf>,
named(8) <#std-iscman-named>, BIND 9 Administrator Reference Manual.
Author
Internet Systems Consortium
Copyright
2026, Internet Systems Consortium
9.20.21-1~deb13u1-Debian 2026-03-13 RNDC-CONFGEN(8)
Generated by dwww version 1.16 on Sat Mar 28 19:10:53 CET 2026.