Distributed Name Service (DNS) Management Operations Manual

6 Using DNSCOM
31258 Tandem Computers Incorporated 6–1
As a system manager or operator, you use the DNS interactive interface to create a
DNS database, maintain and query a DNS database, and manage the operation of
DNS. You accomplish these tasks with the DNSCOM commands. This section
includes an overview of DNSCOM and tips for using the DNSCOM commands.
Section 7 presents all the DNSCOM commands in alphabetical order with syntax
descriptions and examples.
The following information is included in this section:
DNSCOM command functional groups
Using DNS reserved keywords
Available attribute keywords for command objects
Working with different DNS configurations
Running DNSCOM interactively
Using DNSCOM command files
DNSCOM operating modes
Options for entering commands
Cautions about ambiguous names
Introduction to
DNSCOM
DNSCOM is the command interpreter used to initialize DNS configurations and to
control DNS interactively. In the interactive command cycle, DNSCOM prompts you
for a command. After you enter a command and DNSCOM executes the command,
the cycle repeats.
DNSCOM includes commands to add, delete, and alter definitions in a DNS database;
to inquire about names defined to DNS; and to control DNS processes. DNSCOM
supports four functional groups of commands: update, inquiry, operational, and basic.
The functional groups are described below. In addition, Section 7 begins with four
tables of all the DNSCOM commands, displayed in their functional groups.
Update commands alter the contents of a DNS database. These commands
primarily consist of ADD commands, which define new names by adding these
names and their attributes to a DNS database; ALTER commands, which change
existing name attributes in a database; and DELETE commands, which remove
name definitions from a DNS database.
Inquiry commands display information about a DNS name, file, or process. These
consist of INFO commands, which display various information about names; and
LIST commands, which display lists of names and their associated types.
Operational commands control DNS processes. These commands initialize, start,
and stop DNS configurations; establish a link between DNSCOM and the name
manager; change the operational mode of DNSCOM; and display status messages.
Basic commands simplify the use of DNSCOM. These include SET commands,
which establish creation values for attributes of names created by subsequent
ADD commands; RESET commands, which restore the default values for use in
creating attributes; and SHOW commands, which display creation values
currently used for attributes when names are created.