---
name: "rndc-confgen"
section: "8"
platform: "macos"
package: "bind9"
version: "65"
release: "macOS 26.5"
platforms: ["linux", "macos"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/rndc-confgen"
---

# rndc-confgen(8)

rndc key generation tool

## NAME

rndc-confgen - rndc key generation tool

## SYNOPSIS

**rndc-confgen** \[**-a**\] \[**-A** *algorithm*\] \[**-b** *keysize*\] \[**-c** *keyfile*\] \[**-h**\] \[**-k** *keyname*\] \[**-p** *port*\] \[**-r** *randomfile*\] \[**-s** *address*\] \[**-t** *chrootdir*\] \[**-u** *user*\]

## DESCRIPTION

**rndc-confgen** generates configuration files for **rndc**. It can be used as a convenient alternative to writing the rndc.conf file and the corresponding **controls** and **key** statements in named.conf by hand. Alternatively, it can be run with the **-a** option to set up a rndc.key file and avoid the need for a rndc.conf file and a **controls** statement altogether.

## OPTIONS

- \-a

  Do automatic **rndc** configuration. This creates a file rndc.key in /etc (or whatever *sysconfdir* was specified as when BIND was built) that is read by both **rndc** and **named** on startup. The rndc.key file defines a default command channel and authentication key allowing **rndc** to communicate with **named** on the local host with no further configuration.

  Running **rndc-confgen -a** allows BIND 9 and **rndc** to be used as drop-in replacements for BIND 8 and **ndc**, with no changes to the existing BIND 8 named.conf file.

  If a more elaborate configuration than that generated by **rndc-confgen -a** is required, for example if rndc is to be used remotely, you should run **rndc-confgen** without the **-a** option and set up a rndc.conf and named.conf as directed.

- \-A *algorithm*

  Specifies the algorithm to use for the TSIG key. Available choices are: hmac-md5, hmac-sha1, hmac-sha224, hmac-sha256, hmac-sha384 and hmac-sha512. The default is hmac-md5 or if MD5 was disabled hmac-sha256.

- \-b *keysize*

  Specifies the size of the authentication key in bits. Must be between 1 and 512 bits; the default is the hash size.

- \-c *keyfile*

  Used with the **-a** option to specify an alternate location for rndc.key.

- \-h

  Prints a short summary of the options and arguments to **rndc-confgen**.

- \-k *keyname*

  Specifies the key name of the rndc authentication key. This must be a valid domain name. The default is **rndc-key**.

- \-p *port*

  Specifies the command channel port where **named** listens for connections from **rndc**. The default is 953.

- \-r *randomfile*

  Specifies a source of random data for generating the authorization. If the operating system does not provide a /dev/random or equivalent device, the default source of randomness is keyboard input. randomdev specifies the name of a character device or file containing random data to be used instead of the default. The special value keyboard indicates that keyboard input should be used.

- \-s *address*

  Specifies the IP address where **named** listens for command channel connections from **rndc**. The default is the loopback address 127.0.0.1.

- \-t *chrootdir*

  Used with the **-a** option to specify a directory where **named** will run chrooted. An additional copy of the rndc.key will be written relative to this directory so that it will be found by the chrooted **named**.

- \-u *user*

  Used with the **-a** option to set the owner of the rndc.key file generated. If **-t** is also specified only the file in the chroot area has its owner changed.

## EXAMPLES

To allow **rndc** to be used with no manual configuration, run

**rndc-confgen -a**

To print a sample rndc.conf file and corresponding **controls** and **key** statements to be manually inserted into named.conf, run

**rndc-confgen**

## SEE ALSO

[**rndc**(8)](/rndc/8.md), [**rndc.conf**(5)](/rndc.conf/5.md), [**named**(8)](/named/8.md), BIND 9 Administrator Reference Manual.

## AUTHOR

**Internet Systems Consortium, Inc.**

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright © 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2013-2016 Internet Systems Consortium, Inc. ("ISC")\
 Copyright © 2001, 2003 Internet Software Consortium.\