Set Up a DNS Server with ESXCLI
Last Updated December 16, 2024

You can use ESXCLI to set up a DNS server.

The following example illustrates setting up a DNS server. Specify one of the options listed in Connection Options for ESXCLI Host Management Commands in place of

<conn_options>

Print a list of DNS servers configured on the system in the order in which they will be used.

esxcli <conn_options> network ip dns server list

If DNS is not set up for the target server, the command returns an empty string.

Add a server by running

esxcli network ip dns server add

and specifying the server IPv4 or IPv6 address.

esxcli <conn_options> network ip dns server add --server=<str>

Change the DNS settings.

Specify the DNS server by using the

--dns

option and the DNS host.

esxcli <conn_options> network ip dns server add --server=<server>

Run the command multiple times to specify multiple DNS hosts.

Configure the DNS host name for the server specified by

--server

--vihost

esxcli <conn_options> system hostname set --host=<new_host_name>

Configure the DNS domain name for the server specified by

--server

--vihost

esxcli <conn_options> system hostname --domain=mydomain.biz

To turn on DHCP, enable DHCP and set the VMkernel NIC.

Turn on DHCP for IPv4.

esxcli <conn_options> network ip interface ipv4 set --type dhcp/none/static
esxcli <conn_options> network ip interface ipv4 set --peer-dns=<str>

Turn on DHCP for IPv6.

esxcli <conn_options> network ip interface ipv6 set --enable-dhcpv6=true/false
esxcli <conn_options> network ip interface ipv6 set --peer-dns=<str>

VMware vSphere SDKs and Tools 8.0