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PowerDNS
Authoritative Server

Flexible, scalable authoritative DNS built for modern domain hosting.

PowerDNS Authoritative Server is a high-performance and versatile authoritative DNS server. It is built to serve anything from individual domains to large-scale DNS hosting environments for hosting companies, enterprises or network operators. PowerDNS Authoritative Server combines fast query responses with flexible data backends, powerful automation, and comprehensive DNSSEC capabilities – giving you the freedom to build an authoritative DNS architecture around your operational requirements.


Flexible Backends

Choose how and where you store your DNS data. PowerDNS Authoritative Server supports traditional zone files as well as SQL databases and other dynamic backends.


High Performance

 Deliver fast, reliable authoritative DNS responses for demanding hosting environments and large domain portfolios.


 DNSSEC

 Secure your domains with comprehensive DNSSEC capabilities, including online signing, automated key management, and support for pre-signed zones.


Automation

 Manage zones and DNS records programmatically through a REST API and integrate DNS management into your existing workflows and platforms.

ENGINEERED FOR FLEXIBILITY

Your DNS Data.
Your Architecture.

Unlike authoritative DNS servers built around a single storage model, PowerDNS gives you the flexibility to choose how DNS data is stored and managed. Use familiar BIND-style zone files, connect PowerDNS directly to SQL databases, or build more dynamic architectures using specialized backends.

This separation between DNS logic and data storage makes PowerDNS Authoritative Server particularly well suited to hosting platforms and other environments where DNS needs to integrate with existing systems.

Your DNS Data. Your Architecture.

Get more with PowerDNS Authoritative Essentials 

PowerDNS Authoritative Server is at the core of PowerDNS Authoritative Essentials, bringing together our authoritative DNS technology with the commercial capabilities of ZoneControl and the support you need for business-critical DNS infrastructure.

Discover Authoritative Essentials →

DNSSEC WITHOUT THE COMPLEXITY

Secure Your Domains at Scale

PowerDNS Authoritative Server is the leading DNSSEC implementation used by many of the world’s largest domain hosters. It provides comprehensive DNSSEC capabilities for organizations that need to secure domains without making day-to-day DNS operations unnecessarily complex.

PowerDNS Authoritative Server comes with support for all major databases, including, but not limited to, LMDB, MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite3, LDAP and plain text files. DNS answers can also be fully scripted for dynamic redirection, spam filtering or real-time intervention using a variety of scripting languages such as Lua, Java, Perl, Python, Ruby, C and C++.

Everything You Need for Scalable Authoritative DNS

PowerDNS Authoritative Server provides the capabilities you need to operate flexible, secure, and highly scalable authoritative DNS services, including:

  • High-performance authoritative DNS
  • Flexible backend architecture
  • MySQL and PostgreSQL backends
  • BIND-style zone file support
  • LMDB support
  • Primary and secondary operation
  • Native database replication
  • DNSSEC online signing
  • Pre-signed DNSSEC zones
  • Automated DNSSEC key management
  • REST API for zone management and automation
  • Dynamic DNS Updates
  • Catalog Zones for updates across authoritative fleets
  • IPv4 and IPv6 support
  • Views to serve different versions of the same DNS zone
  • Extensive operational statistics and monitoring
Product Sheet Documentation

Why Commercial PowerDNS?

Open source is in our DNA. Commercial expertise is our promise.

When DNS is critical to your business, you need more than software. You need a partner who understands the technology, the architecture, and the operational challenges behind it.

PowerDNS solutions enhance our open source products with access to commercial add-ons, support and the people who build and maintain the software.

Commercial Products

Access enterprise features designed for service providers, network operators, hosting companies, and large enterprises.

Early Security Patches

Keep your DNS infrastructure protected with early access to security patches before public release.

Long-Term Maintenance

Plan upgrades and lifecycle management with confidence and keep your DNS infrastructure maintainable over time.

Training and Consulting

Build internal expertise with professional services and training tailored to your team and infrastructure.

Professional Support

Get professional support backed by clearly defined, strong service levels for your production environment.

Direct Access to PowerDNS Experts

Work with engineers who understand PowerDNS at its core and can help diagnose complex technical issues.

Architecture Guidance

Design resilient, scalable DNS environments with guidance based on real-world deployments.

Enhance PowerDNS Authoritative Server with Powerful Product Extensions.

PowerDNS

DNSdist

DNSdist

  Modernize DNS traffic management with intelligent load balancing, high-performance caching, encrypted DNS, and infrastructure security.


Discover
DNSdist

PowerDNS

LS 
Enterprise

LS Enterprise

Synchronize zone updates in each Authoritative Server's local LMDB database with all other Authoritative Servers using Lightning Stream Enterprise.

Learn about
LS Enterprise

PowerDNS

ZoneControl

Zone control

Simplify domain and zone administration with a graphical management interface designed for efficient DNS operations.


Check out
ZoneControl

PowerDNS

Cloud Control

Zone Control

Step into the world of cloud-native DNS: Manage your entire PowerDNS deployment from a centralized cloud-native control plane.


View
Cloud Control

 Ready to scale your DNS hosting?