How to Build a Linux DNS, NFS, and Local Yum Repo with Nginx

Linux DNS Server Setup

Install the required packages:

yum -y install bind

yum install bind-utils -y

Edit the main configuration file: vi /etc/named.conf Check the configuration syntax: named-checkconf Modify the zone definition file:

vi /etc/named.rfc1912.zones

Prepare forward zone data:

Copy the template file and keep permissions:

Edit the zone file:

Prepare reverse zone data:

Copy the forward zone file as a reverse template:

Edit the reverse zone file:

Restart the DNS service and test: systemctl restart named Edit /etc/resolv.conf to point to the new nameserver (e.g., nameserver 192.168.127.11).

Forward lookup test:

Reverse lookup test:

Linux NFS Server Configuration

Server side

Install required packages:

Enable services at boot and start them:

Create and export a shared directory (example: /home/nfs with full permissions):

Refresh export table:

Open firewall port 2049 for NFS:

Restart services to apply changes:

Verify exported directories:

Client side

Install the same packages and start services:

Check available exports from the server:

Create a mount point and mount the NFS share:

Persist the mount via /etc/fstab:

Common NFS startup issue

If rpcbind fails with “Failed to listen on RPCbind Server Activation Socket”, disable IPv6 and adjust the socket file:

vim /etc/sysctl.conf
net.ipv6.conf.all.disable_ipv6 = 1
net.ipv6.conf.default.disable_ipv6 = 1
sysctl -p

find /etc -name 'rpcbind.socket'
vim /etc/systemd/system/sockets.target.wants/rpcbind.socket
systemctl daemon-reload
systemctl restart rpcbind
systemctl restart nfs

Creating a Local Yum Repository with Nginx

1. Install Nginx and its build dependencies

yum -y install zlib zlib-devel openssl openssl-devel pcre pcre-devel

Download, extract, compile, and install Nginx (example version 1.19.4):

tar -zxvf nginx-1.19.4.tar.gz
cd nginx-1.19.4
./configure && make && make install

Verify the configuration and add Nginx to the system path:

/usr/local/nginx/sbin/nginx -t
/usr/local/nginx/sbin/nginx -V
cp /usr/local/nginx/sbin/nginx /usr/local/sbin/

Enable automatic start: echo "/usr/local/sbin/nginx" >> /etc/rc.local Control commands:

Start: nginx Stop: kill $(cat /var/run/nginx.pid) Reload: nginx -s reload 2. Prepare the local Yum repository files

Create a directory for the repository, e.g., /data/centos/6 and /data/centos/7, and copy the ISO contents into it.

Copy repodata/repomd.xml to the parent directory.

3. Configure Nginx to serve the repository

Example nginx.conf snippet (place inside the http block):

server {
    listen 80;
    server_name yum.local;
    root /data/centos;
    autoindex on;
}

Reload Nginx after editing: nginx -s reload 4. Configure client machines to use the new repo

Create /etc/yum.repos.d/Local.repo with content similar to:

Refresh the cache and verify:

This complete workflow enables a self‑contained DNS service, NFS sharing, and a private YUM repository, useful for isolated networks or lab environments.