Running DNS servers: zones, records and resolution
Run internal DNS with confidence: authoritative and recursive roles, records and TTLs, planned changes, split-horizon and reading dig output.
- Level
- Intermediate
- Length
- About 55 minutes
- Contents
- 3 lessons · 1 video · final exam
- Status
- Published · updated 1 Oct 2026
Skills you'll practise
- Distinguish authoritative and recursive DNS servers and read the flags that show which answered
- Create and check common record types, including reverse (PTR) records
- Plan a DNS change around TTLs so the cutover is predictable
- Diagnose stale, missing or inconsistent answers, including split-horizon views
Course outline
- 1.Running DNS serversVideo · 2 min
- 2.Authoritative and recursive: who answers whatLesson · 15 min
- 3.Zones and recordsLesson · 15 min
- 4.Changing and troubleshooting DNS safelyLesson · 15 min
- 5.Running DNS servers: zones, records and resolution: knowledge checkKnowledge check · 16 questions
- 6.Running DNS servers: zones, records and resolution: practical exerciseKnowledge check · 1 question
- 7.Inside the office the app is still on the old serverScenario
- 8.Final exam7 questions · passing it completes the course, so people who already know the material can test out
Sources it draws on
The lessons and questions are written from these references, so learners can go back to the original.
See it with your own jobs and topics
Tell us about your team and we'll walk you through setup, from choosing jobs to your first skills check.