---
name: "ndc"
section: "8bind"
platform: "linux"
package: "bind"
version: "1:8.2.2p5-0slink1.1"
release: "Debian 2.1 (Slink)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/ndc/8bind"
---

# ndc(8bind)

name daemon control interface

## NAME

**@INDOT@ndc** – name daemon control interface

## SYNOPSIS

**@INDOT@ndc** *directive* \[*...*\]

## DESCRIPTION

This command allows the name server administrator to send various signals to the name server, or to restart it.  Zero or more directives may be given, from the following list:

- **status**

  Displays the current status of @INDOT@named(@SYS\_OPS\_EXT@) as shown by ps(@CMD\_EXT@).

- **dumpdb**

  Causes **@INDOT@named** to dump its database and cache to */var/named/named\_dump.db* (uses the  INT signal.)

- **reload**

  Causes **@INDOT@named** to check the serial numbers of all primary and secondary zones and to reload those that have changed (uses the  HUP signal.)

- **stats**

  Causes **@INDOT@named** to dump its statistics to */var/named/named.stats* (uses the  IOT or  ABRT signal.)

- **trace**

  Causes **@INDOT@named** to increment its  “tracing level” by one.  Whenever the tracing level is nonzero, trace information will be written to */var/named/named.run*. Higher tracing levels result in more detailed information. (Uses the  USR1 signal.)

- **notrace**

  Causes **@INDOT@named** to set its  “tracing level” to zero, closing  */var/named/named.run*, if it is open (uses the  USR2 signal.)

- **querylog**

  Causes **@INDOT@named** to toggle the  “query logging” feature, which while on will result in a syslog(@SYSCALL\_EXT@) of each incoming query (uses the  WINCH signal.)  Note that query logging consumes quite a lot of log file space.  This directive may also be given as **qrylog**.

- **start**

  Causes **@INDOT@named** to be started, as long as it isn't already running.

- **stop**

  Causes **@INDOT@named** to be stopped, if it is running.

- **restart**

  Causes **@INDOT@named** to be killed and restarted.

## BUGS

Arguments to **@INDOT@named** are not preserved by **restart**, or known by **start**.

Some mechanism for controlling the parameters and environment should exist.

Implemented as a sh(@CMD\_EXT@) script.

## AUTHOR

Paul Vixie (Internet Software Consortium)

## SEE ALSO

@INDOT@named(@SYS\_OPS\_EXT@), @INDOT@named.reload(@SYS\_OPS\_EXT@), @INDOT@named.restart(@SYS\_OPS\_EXT@).