Managing Local DNS Records

In macOS, managing local DNS records is very useful for developing, testing, and debugging web applications. ServBay provides a local dnsmasq server, making it simpler to add, modify, pause, and delete DNS records. This article will detail how to use ServBay to manage local DNS records.

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For sites added through the website functionality of ServBay, these records will show a small globe 🌐 icon on the right side of the DNS record. Such records need to be managed back through the 'Website' functionality and cannot be directly managed within the DNS records.

Viewing Current Local DNS Records

With ServBay, you can easily view the current local DNS record contents. ServBay uses a dnsmasq server to handle these records, making management more convenient.

Viewing Steps

1. Open the ServBay management interface.
2. Navigate to DNS.
3. In the list on the right, select DNS Server.
4. ServBay will display the current DNS record contents.

This way, you can visually see all configured domain and IP address mappings.

Adding a Record to Local DNS

During development or testing, you might need to map a domain to a specific IP address. With ServBay, you can easily add a record to the local DNS.

Adding Steps

1. Open the ServBay management interface.
2. Navigate to DNS.
3. In the list on the right, select DNS Server.
4. Click the + button.
5. Input the domain and corresponding IP address, for example:

   servbay.demo 127.0.0.1

6. Click the Add button.

This will add a new domain and IP address mapping to the local DNS records.

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ServBay supports adding multiple IP addresses and also supports adding IPv6 addresses. Multiple IP addresses should be separated by a comma (,).

Modifying a Record in Local DNS

Sometimes, you may need to modify an existing domain and IP address mapping. With ServBay, you can conveniently modify records in the local DNS.

Modifying Steps

1. Open the ServBay management interface.
2. Navigate to DNS.
3. In the list on the right, select DNS Server.
4. Find the record you need to modify.
5. Click the record.
6. In the panel on the right, modify the domain or IP address, for example:

   servbay.demo 127.0.0.1 -> servbay.demo 10.0.0.1

7. Click the Save button.

This will update the specified record in the local DNS records.

Pausing a Record in Local DNS

In certain situations, you may need to temporarily pause the resolution of a record without deleting it. With ServBay, you can easily achieve this.

Pausing Steps

1. Open the ServBay management interface.
2. Navigate to DNS.
3. In the list on the right, select DNS Server.
4. Find the record you need to pause.
5. Click the Pause button next to the record.

ServBay will automatically pause the resolution of that record, and the icon in front of the record will turn from green to gray.

Deleting a Record in Local DNS

If a record is no longer needed, you can delete it from the local DNS records through ServBay.

Deleting Steps

1. Open the ServBay management interface.
2. Navigate to DNS.
3. In the list on the right, select DNS Server.
4. Find the record you need to delete.
5. Click the Delete button next to the record.
6. Confirm the deletion operation.

This will remove the specified domain and IP address mapping from the local DNS records.

Summary

ServBay provides an easy-to-use interface to manage local DNS records on macOS, making it simpler and more intuitive to view, add, modify, pause, and delete records. With these functionalities, you can more efficiently develop, test, and debug web applications. Whether adding new domain mappings or modifying existing records, ServBay meets your needs and ensures flexibility and control of the local network environment. By using ServBay's dnsmasq server, you can easily manage local DNS records, enhancing development and testing efficiency. For websites added through ServBay's website functionality, management should be done via the 'Website' functionality to ensure the accuracy and consistency of all records.