---
name: "poke_dhcp"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "bind"
version: "1:8.4.7-1"
release: "Debian 4.0 (Etch)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/poke_dhcp"
---

# poke\_dhcp(1)

restarts a running DHCP server

## NAME

poke\_ns - restarts a running DHCP server

## SYNOPSIS

**poke\_dhcp** poke\_dhcp \[ restart \| reload \| debug \| nodebug \| dump \| terminate \]

## DESCRIPTION

**poke\_ns** sends process control signals to a running bind nameserver. Without any options **poke-ns** emits a help message.

## OPTIONS

- restart:

  Terminates the running nameserver by the sending the TERM signal and restarts the nameserver.

- reload:

  Send the HUP signal to the running nameserver which instructs it to reload all its zone files.

- debug:

  Sends the USR1 signal to the nameserver which causes it to write debugging output to the **named\_run** file. The **named\_run** file is created in the  **/var/tmp** directory with a version 4 nameserver or in current directory with a version 8 nameserver. Sending another USR1 signal increases the level of debugging output.

- nodebug:

  Turn off debugging output by sending the SIGUSR2 signal to the running nameserver.

- dump:

  Sends the INT signal which causes the nameserver to dump a copy of its internal database files to the **named\_dump.db** file.

- terminate:

  Sends the TERM signal which causes the running nameserver to terminate.

## Configuration File

**poke\_ns** uses a simple environment file which sets various default parameters. Parameters are set using a parameter=value syntax. The environment file is normally located in **/usr/local/etc/poke\_ns.env.** Parameters settable in this file are:

- DB\_DUMP:

  Pathname of the database dump file. DEBUG: Pathname of the debug output file.

- NAMED:

  Pathname of the nameserver executable to use when restarting the server.

- PIDFILE:

  Pathname of the file which contains the process id of the running nameserver.

The environment file is checked to be sure it is only writable by root, since poke\_ns is normally setuid root and only executable by a group responsible for nameserver maintenance.

## SEE ALSO

**[gendns(1)](/gendns/1.md),** **genstatic(1),** **[updatehosts(1)](/updatehosts/1.md)**