BindCaptain

Containerized BIND DNS Server - Deploy in Minutes

A modern, containerized BIND DNS solution with automated management and reverse DNS generation. Perfect for homelabs, small businesses, and enterprise environments.

Quick Start (3 Steps)

1. Clone & Setup

git clone https://github.com/randyoyarzabal/bindcaptain.git
cd bindcaptain

# Auto-install Podman and dependencies (RHEL/CentOS/Rocky/AlmaLinux/Fedora)
sudo ./tools/system-setup.sh

# For Ubuntu/Debian/Arch: Install Podman manually first
# Ubuntu: sudo apt install podman podman-compose buildah skopeo
# Arch: sudo pacman -S podman podman-compose buildah skopeo

2. Configure DNS

# Interactive wizard (recommended)
sudo ./tools/config-setup.sh wizard

# Or manual: Copy your zone files to config/yourdomain.com/

3. Launch & Test

# Build and run
sudo ./bindcaptain.sh build
sudo ./bindcaptain.sh run

# Test DNS resolution
dig @localhost yourdomain.com

That's it! Your DNS server is running. See Complete Documentation for advanced features.

System Requirements

• Podman (container runtime)
• Git (for cloning)
• Port 53 available
• Root privileges

Supported OS: RHEL 8+, CentOS 8+, Rocky Linux 8+, AlmaLinux 8+, Fedora 30+, Ubuntu, Debian, Arch Linux

Environment Variables

• BINDCAPTAIN_CONFIG_PATH - Path to your DNS configuration directory (default: ./config)
• TZ - Timezone setting (default: UTC)

# Use custom configuration directory
BINDCAPTAIN_CONFIG_PATH=/path/to/my/dns-config sudo ./bindcaptain.sh run

Need detailed setup instructions? See System Requirements and Manual Setup Guide for comprehensive installation steps.

Production Setup

Systemd Service (Auto-start)

# Install as systemd service (one-time)
sudo ./bindcaptain.sh install
sudo ./bindcaptain.sh enable

# Service management
sudo ./bindcaptain.sh start|stop|restart|service-status

Detailed service setup? See Systemd Service Guide for complete service management instructions.

DNS Record Management

# Source the manager
sudo bash -c "source /opt/bindcaptain/tools/bindcaptain_manager.sh"

# Add records
bind.create_record webserver yourdomain.com 192.168.1.100
bind.create_cname www yourdomain.com webserver
bind.create_txt @ yourdomain.com "v=spf1 -all"

# List records
bind.list_records yourdomain.com

Advanced DNS operations? See DNS Operations Guide for comprehensive record management and zone configuration.

Key Commands

# Container Management
sudo ./bindcaptain.sh build|run|stop|restart|logs|status

# Service Management  
sudo ./bindcaptain.sh install|uninstall|enable|disable|start|stop-service

# DNS Management
bind.create_record|create_cname|create_txt|delete_record|list_records

Complete command reference? See Cheat Sheet for all available commands and examples.

Features

• Deploy in Minutes - 3-step setup process
• Containerized - Clean, isolated BIND installation
• Smart Management - CLI tools for DNS record management
• Secure - Modern BIND 9.16+ with security best practices
• Auto-Reverse DNS - Automatic reverse DNS generation
• Auto-Updates - Built-in git refresh functionality
• Production-Ready - Used in real production environments

Documentation

• Complete Guide - Full documentation index
• Installation - Detailed setup instructions
• DNS Operations - Managing DNS records
• Troubleshooting - Common issues and solutions
• Cheat Sheet - Quick command reference

Contributing

Issues and pull requests welcome! See our GitHub repository.

License

MIT License - see LICENSE for details.

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BindCaptain - Navigate your DNS with confidence