Resolvconf: Difference between revisions
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The configuration file ''resolv.conf'' normally contains information about the nameservers to be used by the system. However, when multiple programs need to dynamically modify the ''resolv.conf'' file they can interfere with each other and the file status can be invalid. The ''resolvconf'' program addresses this problem. It acts as an intermediary between programs that supply [[nameserver]] information (e.g., [[DHCP]] clients) and programs that use [[nameserver]] information (e.g., [[resolver (DNS)|resolver]]). |
The configuration file ''resolv.conf'' normally contains information about the nameservers to be used by the system. However, when multiple programs need to dynamically modify the ''resolv.conf'' file they can interfere with each other and the file status can be invalid. The ''resolvconf'' program addresses this problem. It acts as an intermediary between programs that supply [[nameserver]] information (e.g., [[DHCP]] clients) and programs that use [[nameserver]] information (e.g., [[resolver (DNS)|resolver]]). |
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When ''resolvconf'' is properly installed, the ''resolv.conf'' file |
When ''resolvconf'' is properly installed, the ''resolv.conf'' file is replaced by a [[symbolic link]] to <tt>/etc/resolvconf/run/resolv.conf</tt> and the resolver instead uses the dynamically generated linked file. |
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The ''resolvconf'' program is only necessary when a system has multiple programs that need to dynamically modify the nameserver information. In a simple system where the nameservers do not change often or are only changed by one program, the ''resolv.conf'' configuration file is adequate. |
The ''resolvconf'' program is only necessary when a system has multiple programs that need to dynamically modify the nameserver information. In a simple system where the nameservers do not change often or are only changed by one program, the ''resolv.conf'' configuration file is adequate. |
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Revision as of 11:16, 8 December 2011
In some Linux distributions and related computer operating systems, the resolvconf program maintains the system information about the currently available nameservers and manages the contents of the configuration file resolv.conf, which determines Domain Name System (DNS) resolver parameters.
Before a computer can connect to an external network resource by name (e.g., www.google.com), it must have a means of converting the alpha-numeric names (e.g., wikipedia.org) into numeric network addresses (e.g., 66.230.200.10). The Internet uses these numeric IP addresses as network addresses.
The configuration file resolv.conf normally contains information about the nameservers to be used by the system. However, when multiple programs need to dynamically modify the resolv.conf file they can interfere with each other and the file status can be invalid. The resolvconf program addresses this problem. It acts as an intermediary between programs that supply nameserver information (e.g., DHCP clients) and programs that use nameserver information (e.g., resolver).
When resolvconf is properly installed, the resolv.conf file is replaced by a symbolic link to /etc/resolvconf/run/resolv.conf and the resolver instead uses the dynamically generated linked file.
The resolvconf program is only necessary when a system has multiple programs that need to dynamically modify the nameserver information. In a simple system where the nameservers do not change often or are only changed by one program, the resolv.conf configuration file is adequate.
External links
- resolvconf. Original implementation.
- openresolv. Compatible implementation.
- man page. resolvconf.
- docs.sun.com. Solaris 2.7 "resolv.conf" man page.
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