---
page-title: "PowerDNS pdnsutil cheat sheet - Makarainen"
url: https://makarainen.net/PowerDNS-pdnsutil-cheat-sheet
date: "2023-04-19 20:58:11"
---
## PowerDNS pdnsutil cheat sheet

![PowerDNS logo](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/8d/Official_PowerDNS_logo_250_pixels.png "PowerDNS logo")

This is an extremely simple tutorial on how to manage data in the [PowerDNS Authoritative Server](https://www.powerdns.com/auth.html) using the command line "[pdnsutil](https://doc.powerdns.com/authoritative/manpages/pdnsutil.1.html)" tool. The guide is written in the "walk through" format: create zone - add data - update serial.

### CREATE ZONE

```
pdnsutil create-zone example.com
```

### ADD DATA TO ZONE // Let's start by adding the root A-record and AAAA for IPv6 (makarainen.net)

```
pdnsutil add-record example.com @ A 192.168.1.2
pdnsutil add-record example.com @ AAAA 2a01:4f9:c010:30f4::1
```

### ADD DATA TO ZONE // adding a subdomain (www)

```
pdnsutil add-record example.com www A 192.168.1.2
```

### ADD DATA TO ZONE // every domain needs name servers

```
pdnsutil add-record example.com @ NS ns1.example.com
```

### ADD DATA TO ZONE

```
pdnsutil add-record example.com @ MX "10 example.com"

pdnsutil add-record example.com 3600 TXT "google-site-verification=example-id"
```

### MANAGE ZONES // check the information provided

```
pdnsutil list-zone example.com
```

### MANAGE ZONES // modify the zone (if changes do not miss update serial -> UPDATE SERIAL)

```
pdnsutil edit-zone example.com
```

### MANAGE ZONES

```
pdnsutil check-all-zones

pdnsutil show-zone example.com
```

### DELETE A SPECIFIC ZONE

```
pdnsutil delete-zone example.com
```

### UPDATE SERIAL

```
pdnsutil increase-serial example.com
```

### UPDATE THE CONNECTED DNS SERVERS

```
pdns_control notify example.com
```

### START THE POWERDNS SERVER IN UBUNTU

```
service pdns start
```

### Questions

Where do I enter a SOA-record? - No, you don't have to enter it. PowerDNS generates it automatically when you update the serial. However, specify initialization values in the /etc/powerdns/pdns.conf file.

### Explore more

Find out how the background system can be managed [PowerDNS export from MySQL to csv using command line](https://makarainen.net/powerdns-export-from-mysql-to-csv-using-command-line)

### Noteworthy deal

[Domainparkki](https://domainparkki.com/) may be able to help if you need plain name server services for hobby/low volume use. Only 5 euros +VAT per zone per year. One zone = one domain, including 20 records per zone and 1 billion queries per month (excess traffic is billed separately). Open the link above and check it out. Inquiries by email [hello@domainparkki.com](mailto:hello@domainparkki.com).

*// viHannes, 12 Feb 2022 in Helsinki, Finland*