Dnsmasq is a lightweight DNS forwarder and DHCP server that is commonly used in small networks and as a caching DNS proxy. It was developed by Simon Kelley and released in 2001 under the GNU General Public License.
Dnsmasq is designed to be a simple and easy-to-use tool that provides essential DNS and DHCP services. It can be used as a standalone tool or as part of a larger network infrastructure. It is particularly useful in situations where a full-blown DNS server or DHCP server is not required, such as in small office or home networks.
- DNS forwarding and caching: dnsmasq can forward DNS queries to upstream DNS servers and cache the results, which can help to reduce network traffic and improve DNS performance.
- DHCP server: dnsmasq can assign IP addresses and other network configuration information to clients on a local network.
- Network booting: dnsmasq can be used to provide network boot services, such as booting diskless machines or installing operating systems over the network.
- Support for domain name tagging: dnsmasq supports the use of domain name tagging, which allows administrators to configure different DNS and DHCP settings for different subnets or clients.
- Overall, dnsmasq is a versatile and flexible tool that can be used in a variety of networking scenarios. Its simplicity and ease-of-use make it a popular choice for small networks and home users.