Infoblox: DNS (Domain Name System)

These elements form the foundation of Infoblox DNS operations and automation for scalable, secure, and resilient network environments:

• Grid Master: The main control node in an Infoblox Grid architecture. It manages grid configuration, synchronization, and central policy enforcement for all member appliances.
• Grid Member: An appliance or virtual device participating in the Infoblox Grid. Grid Members deploy DNS, DHCP, or IPAM services under the Grid Master’s oversight.
• NIOS (Network Infrastructure Operating System): The specialized Infoblox software platform running on all Infoblox appliances. NIOS provides the web interface, REST APIs, service management, DNS protocols, and security features.
• DNS Zones: Managed segments of the DNS namespace hosted by Infoblox, such as primary (authoritative) and secondary (slave) zones, enabling distributed DNS resolution.
• DHCP Scope: A configurable range of IP addresses and options managed by Infoblox DHCP services for automated client network assignments.

Infoblox supports and manages a wide range of DNS record types to enable efficient name resolution, email routing, and service discovery. Here are some of the most commonly deployed DNS record types in Infoblox environments:

• A Record (Address Record): Maps a domain name to an IPv4 address, allowing devices to find resources by name.
  Example: example.com → 192.0.2.10
• AAAA Record (IPv6 Address Record): Associates a domain name with an IPv6 address.
  Example: example.com → 2001:db8::1
• CNAME Record (Canonical Name): Creates an alias for another domain name. Useful for pointing multiple services to a single host.
  Example: www.example.com → example.com
• MX Record (Mail Exchange): Identifies the mail server responsible for receiving email for the domain.
  Example: example.com → mail.example.com
• PTR Record (Pointer Record): Provides reverse lookup, mapping an IP address to a domain name.
  Example: 192.0.2.10 → example.com
• NS Record (Name Server): Designates the authoritative DNS server for a given domain or zone.
  Example: example.com → ns1.example.com
• SOA Record (Start of Authority): Provides information about the zone, such as the primary name server and contact details.
• TXT Record (Text Record): Stores text data, often used for SPF, DKIM, or verification purposes.
  Example: example.com → "v=spf1 include:_spf.example.com ~all"
• SRV Record (Service Locator): Specifies the location of services (e.g., SIP, LDAP) within the domain.
  Example: _sip._tcp.example.com → sipserver.example.com:5060
• CAA Record (Certification Authority Authorization): Specifies which certificate authorities are permitted to issue SSL/TLS certificates for the domain.

Infoblox provides advanced protections for DNS infrastructure through a comprehensive set of security terms and technologies. Below are the primary DNS security-related concepts relevant to modern Infoblox deployments:

• DNSSEC (Domain Name System Security Extensions): Cryptographic signatures are added to DNS data, ensuring authenticity and integrity of DNS responses to guard against spoofing and cache poisoning.
• Protective DNS: Uses DNS to proactively block access to malicious domains, stopping threats like malware, ransomware, and phishing at the query level.
• Encrypted DNS (DoH, DoT): Protocols such as DNS over HTTPS (DoH) and DNS over TLS (DoT) encrypt DNS queries for privacy and protection against eavesdropping and interception.
• DDoS Protection: Infoblox solutions automatically detect and mitigate distributed denial-of-service attacks that target DNS services to ensure continuous availability.
• Response Policy Zones (RPZ): Enable policy-driven filtering and blocking of DNS queries to control access to known malicious or unauthorized domains.
• Threat Intelligence Integration: Real-time threat feeds update DNS protections to block emerging threats and provide visibility into active risks in DNS traffic.
• DNS Tunneling Detection: Security mechanisms identify and block attempts to bypass security controls or exfiltrate data using covert DNS tunnels.
• DNS Hijacking and Spoofing Protection: Prevents unauthorized redirection or manipulation of DNS responses, which could lead users to fraudulent or malicious websites.
• DNS Logging and Visibility: Comprehensive logging and monitoring deliver forensic insights, compliance support, and help accelerate threat response.

Infoblox delivers robust automation and integration capabilities that streamline DDI (DNS, DHCP, IPAM) management across complex network environments, including hybrid and multi-cloud infrastructures. Here are the main automation and integration features available in current Infoblox platforms:

• RESTful API: Enables programmatic control and automation of DNS, DHCP, and IPAM functions. Administrators can create, read, update, and delete network resources directly from scripts and third-party tools.
• Multi-Cloud Integration: Centralizes management of DNS services across leading cloud providers such as AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud. Synchronizes changes between the Infoblox portal and cloud-native DNS services for consistent automation.
• Automation Platforms: Seamlessly integrates with popular workflow automation tools and orchestration platforms, enabling event-driven operations, self-service provisioning, and automated network changes.
• Prebuilt Connectors & Ecosystem Integrations: Supports a broad range of connectors for ITSM, SIEM, SOAR, and configuration management tools, enhancing visibility and speeding response through automated data sharing and compliance checks.
• Unified Management Console: Offers a single-pane-of-glass to automate policy enforcement, monitor network health, and control DDI services for both on-premises and cloud environments.
• Reporting and Analytics: Automates compliance reporting, trend analysis, and alerts with scheduled or real-time insights into network events and configuration changes.

With these automation and integration features, Infoblox simplifies network operations, accelerates deployment, reduces manual intervention, and ensures consistent security and policy application across modern enterprise networks.

The Infoblox NIOS Command Line Interface streamlines troubleshooting, configuration, and status checks for DNS, DHCP, and IPAM environments. Below are some of the most widely used CLI commands for day-to-day management and diagnostics:

• show dns
  Displays DNS service status, statistics, and recursive cache details.
• show dhcp
  Shows active DHCP service information, including lease statuses and configuration settings.
• show interface
  Displays details for all network interfaces on the appliance.
• show log <facility>
  Outputs system logs for the specified facility (e.g., auth, user, daemon).
• set network [address/prefix]
  Configures network settings such as IP address, netmask, and default gateway for interfaces.
• set dns forwarding
  Configures DNS forwarding servers for recursive queries.
• reboot
  Restarts the appliance safely.
• shutdown
  Safely powers down the appliance.
• ping <host>
  Tests network connectivity to another host.
• traceroute <host>
  Traces the packet path to a specified destination for connectivity diagnostics.
• show tech-support
  Generates a comprehensive report containing output from diagnostic commands for support analysis.

These commands form the core toolkit for effective management and troubleshooting across Infoblox environments.