---
name: "knotd"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "knot"
version: "3.6.0-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/knotd"
---

# knotd(8)

Knot DNS server daemon

## NAME

knotd - Knot DNS server daemon

## SYNOPSIS

**knotd** \[*config\_option*\] \[*options*\]

## DESCRIPTION

Knot DNS is a high-performance authoritative DNS server. The *knotd* program is the DNS server daemon.

### Config options

- **-c**, **--config** *file*

  Use a textual configuration file (default is **/etc/knot/knot.conf**).

- **-C**, **--confdb** *directory*

  Use a binary configuration database directory (default is **/var/lib/knot/confdb**). The default configuration database, if exists, has a preference to the default configuration file.

### Options

- **-m**, **--max-conf-size** *MiB*

  Set maximum size of the configuration database (default is 500 MiB, maximum 10000 MiB).

- **-s**, **--socket** *path*

  Use a remote control UNIX socket path (default is **/run/knot/knot.sock**).

- **-d**, **--daemonize** \[*directory*\]

  Run the server as a daemon. New root directory may be specified (default is **/**).

- **-v**, **--verbose**

  Enable debug output.

- **-h**, **--help**

  Print the program help.

- **-V**, **--version**

  Print the program version. The option **-VV** makes the program print the compile time configuration summary.

### Signals

The *knotd* process handles the following signals:

- •

  SIGTERM or SIGINT – Gracefully stop the process.

- •

  SIGHUP – Reload the server configuration and reopen configured log files.

- •

  SIGUSR1 – Reload all configured zones (not recommended with catalog zones).

## EXIT VALUES

Exit status of 0 means successful operation. Any other exit status indicates an error.

## SEE ALSO

**[knot.conf(5)](/knot.conf/5.md)**, **[knotc(8)](/knotc/8.md)**, **[keymgr(8)](/keymgr/8.md)**, **[kjournalprint(8)](/kjournalprint/8.md)**.

## Author

CZ.NIC, z.s.p.o. and contributors \<https://www.knot-dns.cz/\>

## Copyright

Copyright (C) CZ.NIC, z.s.p.o. and contributors