Can I use bind 8.x conf files with bind 9.2.3?

[MJ]

Hi Bill Larson,

Many thanks for your response. Actually I didn't find any step by step
guide for the installation and configuration of BIND 9. I have managed
to install and configure Bind 9 with basic configuration but still a lot
more to do. If you can help me in this I shall be very thank full to
you. I use to get the following error for a zone file which is running
fine with bind 8. Also I have included the zone file and named.conf, so
that you can have a look not only on this error but also suggest me how
is my named.conf. Sorry for the long email.

--------------- Error while loading a zone file which works fine with
Bind 8-------------
Mar 12 17:59:03 sune named[1721]: [ID 873579 daemon.notice] starting
BIND 9.2.3
Mar 12 17:59:03 sune named[1721]: [ID 873579 daemon.error]
dns_rdata_fromtext: xyz.com.hosts:10: near eol: unexpected end of input
Mar 12 17:59:03 sune named[1721]: [ID 873579 daemon.error] zone
xyz.com/IN: loading master file xyz.com.hosts: unexpected end of input
------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------

------------------------ And here is the zone
file----------------------------------------
$TTL 3600
;       Addresses and other host information
;
;

@       IN      SOA     ns1.mydomain.net.sa. root.mydomain.net.sa. (
                        1 ; serial
                        43200   ; refresh every 12 hours
                        4320    ; retry after 1 hour
                        1209600  ; expire after 2 weeks

                        )
; Define the name servers and mail servers

        IN      NS      ns1.mydomain.net.sa.
        IN      NS      ns2.mydomain.net.sa.

        IN      MX      10 smtp.mydomain.net.sa.

; Define localhost
localhost IN    A       127.0.0.1

; Define hosts in this zone


www     IN      CNAME   webhost.mydomain.net.sa.
ftp     IN      CNAME   ftp.mydomain.net.sa.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------

--------------------------named.conf------------------------------------
----

options {
//named.conf file for internal primary master server
//created 23.08.2001, rk
//
//
//type domain source file or host
//
directory "/var/named";
pid-file "/var/run/named.pid";
statistics-file "/var/run/named.stats";
auth-nxdomain no;
transfer-format many-answers; // faster transfers
version "Check it tomorrow"; // hide BIND version
recursion yes; };
controls { };
////////////////////////// default zones ////////////////////////////
// Root server hints
zone "." {
type hint;
file "named.root";
};
// Provide a mapping of Looback address
zone "localhost" {
type master;
file "db.localhost";
allow-update { none; };
notify no;
};
// Provide a reverse mapping for the loopback address 127.0.0.1
zone "0.0.127.in-addr.arpa." {
type master;
file "db.localhost.rev";
allow-update { none; };
notify no;
};
zone "sadeqcarpet.com" {
 type master;
 file "sadeqcarpet.com.hosts";
};

zone "xyz.com" {
 type master;
 file "xyz.com.hosts";
};


----------------------------------------------------------------------

Junaid
-----Original Message-----
From: Bill Larson [mailto:wllarso at swcp.com] 
Sent: Sunday, March 13, 2005 7:52 AM
To: MJ
Subject: Re: Can I use bind 8.x conf files with bind 9.2.3?

There are some configuration directives that changed between BIND-8 and 
BIND-9, but nothing major.  Look at the BIND-9 documentation.  This 
will tell you exactly what configuration directives have changed.  Zone 
files are zone files.  If they work under BIND-8, they will work with 
BIND-4 and BIND-9 also.  They will also function with the MS DNS server 
also.  The format of the zone files is specified in the RFCs.  (Be 
aware that there is a "$TTL" directive that is necessary with BIND-8 
and BIND-9.  If you don't have it then you will get a warning when 
named read the file.)

Try running "named-checkconf" and "named-checkzone" (make sure that you 
use the BIND-9 version of these tools) on your existing config and zone 
files.  This should identify any problems.

"What will be the best way to achieve this?"  Try it out and see.  Read 
the BIND-9 documentation about the changes.  Really, there shouldn't be 
any major problems.

Bill Larson

On Mar 12, 2005, at 3:20 AM, MJ wrote:

> Hi,
> We are running "BIND 8.2.2-P5" on Solaris 8. Now, I am installing Bind
> 9.2.3 on a new Sun machine on solaris 8. Is there anyways I can use
the
> same configuration and zone files what I am using in bind 8.x? What 
> will
> be the best way to achieve this?
> Regards,
> MJ
>
>
>