Introduction

This chapter introduces the Cisco DNS/DHCP Manager. It contains the following sections:

• "Overview of the Cisco DNS/DHCP Manager"

• "Setting Up and Using the CDDM"

Overview of the Cisco DNS/DHCP Manager

The Cisco DNS/DHCP Manager (CDDM) is a suite of TCP/IP applications that manage domain names and synchronize IP addresses between the DHCP and DNS services. The CDDM includes both a graphical tool to manage DNS zone data and a graphical tool to configure various services.

The CDDM provides the following applications and services:

• DNM Browser--Graphical utility that lets you easily manage DNS zone data. All entries in the DNS are checked for proper syntax and duplicate IP addresses, and PTR records are automatically generated.

• DNM service--Server-based application that lets you use the DNM Browser to manage DNS zone data.

• DNS service--Fully compliant BIND 4.9.5 DNS service with proprietary extensions for port numbers.

• DHCP/BootP service--Provides both DHCP and BootP protocols to assign IP addresses to hosts, and automatically updates DNS with the IP addresses and domain names of new nodes on the network.

• Master Server--Master server that listens for requests from the ports on which the services run. When the master server receives a request for a service, it passes the connection to the service.

• Cisco Service Manager (CSM)--Graphical utility that lets you start, stop, and configure services.

• Syslog service--Receives messages from network clients and forwards them to the specified log files. Messages can be sorted based on message type and priority level.

• NTP service--Uses the Network Time Protocol (NTP) to synchronize your system clock and network time with another time source. NTP lets you keep all clients on your network running at the same time, and makes sure your network time is correct for your area.

• TFTP service--Uses the Internet-standard Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP) to transfer files between the local host and remote hosts.

Setting Up and Using the CDDM

This section describes how to set up and use the CDDM.

Planning for the CDDM

Before installing the CDDM, please read Getting Started with Cisco DNS/DHCP Manager. Before you install the software, you must make decisions about which services you need to install and how you will configure them. This is especially true of the DNS service. The DNM service may require you to configure DNS somewhat differently than you are accustomed to; it is imperative that you read Getting Started with Cisco DNS/DHCP Manager so you can make informed decisions about configuring DNS and managing your DNS zone files.

Installing the CDDM

Before installing the CDDM, you must know beforehand which of the provided services you will install. You may need to disable existing services on your system. Once you have made decisions about which services you want to install, and have planned your DNS setup, it is time to install the CDDM. To learn how to disable existing services and install the CDDM, see Getting Started with Cisco DNS/DHCP Manager.

Configuring Services

After you install the CDDM, you will configure the services you chose.

You will use the Cisco Service Manager (CSM) to configure services. For information about the CSM, including how to control access to a service, see Chapter 2, "Configuring Services with the Cisco Service Manager."

To learn how to start and configure the individual services, see the relevant chapters in this guide.