Secondary DNS Server

Objective Configure a Secondary DNS server that automatically replicates DNS zones from the Primary DNS server using zone transfers (AXFR). Environment Virtualization: VirtualBox OS: ( 1 Primary DNS Server VM + 1 Secondary DNS Server + 1 Web Server VM + 1 Client VM) Network Topology Prerequisites This lab builds upon the following previous labs: Private DNS Infrastructure with BIND9 Hosting Multiple Websites on One Server Using Nginx The following components are assumed to already be configured: ...

July 9, 2026 · 2 min

HTTPS with Nginx using a Private Certificate Authority

HTTPS with Nginx using a Private Certificate Authority Objective Secure an existing Nginx website using HTTPS and a certificate signed by a private Certificate Authority. Environment Virtualization: VirtualBox OS: ( 1 DNS Server VM + 1 Web Server VM + 1 Client VM) Network Topology Prerequisites This lab builds upon the Private DNS Infrastructure with BIND9. The following components are assumed to already be configured: BIND9 installed and running on the DNS server. The company.lab DNS zone created and configured. The zone file (/etc/bind/db.company.lab) already exists. The client is configured to use the internal DNS server (192.168.10.10) via Netplan. DNS resolution between the client and the DNS server has been verified. Phase 1 - Verify DNS Resolution Before enabling HTTPS, verify that DNS resolves the web server correctly. ...

July 8, 2026 · 3 min

Configuring Reverse DNS (PTR Records) with BIND9

Configuring Reverse DNS (PTR Records) with BIND9 Objective Extend the existing private DNS infrastructure by configuring Reverse DNS (PTR records). This enables IP addresses to be resolved back to hostnames, complementing the forward lookup zone created in previous labs. By the end of this lab, the DNS server will support both: Forward lookups (hostname → IP address) Reverse lookups (IP address → hostname) Environment Virtualization: VirtualBox OS: ( 1 DNS Server VM + 1 Web Server VM + 1 Client VM) Network Topology ...

July 4, 2026 · 2 min

Hosting Multiple Websites on One Server Using Nginx

Hosting Multiple Websites on One Server Using Nginx Objective Host multiple websites on a single web server by combining: DNS (BIND9) Nginx Virtual Hosts (Server Blocks) Environment Virtualization: VirtualBox OS: ( 1 DNS Server VM + 1 Web Server VM + 1 Client VM) Network Topology Prerequisites This lab builds upon the Private DNS Infrastructure with BIND9 (3-VM Lab). The following components are assumed to already be configured: BIND9 installed and running on the DNS server. The company.lab DNS zone created and configured. The zone file (/etc/bind/db.company.lab) already exists. The client is configured to use the internal DNS server (192.168.10.10) via Netplan. DNS resolution between the client and the DNS server has been verified. In this lab, the existing DNS infrastructure is extended by adding additional DNS records and configuring Nginx virtual hosts to host multiple websites on a single web server. ...

July 3, 2026 · 2 min

Private DNS Infrastructure with BIND9

Private DNS Infrastructure with BIND9 Objective Build a private DNS infrastructure using BIND9 where: A DNS server resolves names in the company.lab domain. A web server hosts a website. A client uses the DNS server to locate and access the web server. Environment Virtualization: VirtualBox OS: ( 1 DNS Server VM + 1 Web Server VM + 1 Client VM) Network Topology Phase 1 - Configure DNS Server Step 1 - Install BIND9 and verify sudo apt update sudo apt install bind9 bind9-utils dnsutils sudo systemctl status named/bind9 ss -tulnp | grep 192.168.10.10:53 ...

July 2, 2026 · 1 min