LPIC-2 DNS, Web and Mail Services Practice Question
A BIND9 nameserver is configured with 'allow-transfer { none; };' but a secondary nameserver needs to receive zone transfers. What change must be made on the master?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates confuse the slave-side 'masters' directive or the notification mechanisms ('notify', 'also-notify') with the actual access control needed on the master to permit the zone transfer itself.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Set 'allow-transfer' to the secondary's IP.
The 'allow-transfer' directive on the master nameserver controls which hosts are permitted to request zone transfers (AXFR/IXFR). Setting it to 'none;' blocks all transfers, so to allow a secondary to receive the zone, you must explicitly list the secondary's IP address in the 'allow-transfer' statement on the master. This is the direct and necessary change to enable zone transfers to that specific slave.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Add a 'masters' statement in the slave's configuration.
Why it's wrong here
'masters' is a slave configuration parameter, not a change on the master.
- ✓
Set 'allow-transfer' to the secondary's IP.
Why this is correct
allow-transfer specifies which servers are allowed to request zone transfers.
- ✗
Set 'notify' to yes.
Why it's wrong here
Notify controls whether the master sends NOTIFY messages, not whether transfers are allowed.
- ✗
Set 'also-notify' to the secondary IP.
Why it's wrong here
also-notify specifies additional servers to notify, but does not allow transfers.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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