How to Install Knot on Windows 10

Knot is an open-source DNS server that can be used to run a local DNS resolver on Windows. In this tutorial, we will guide you through the installation process of Knot on Windows 10.

Prerequisites

Before installing Knot, ensure that your system meets the following requirements:

Step 1: Download Knot

To download Knot, go to the official website https://www.knot-dns.cz/download/ and download the latest version of Knot for Windows.

Step 2: Install Knot

  1. Extract the downloaded file, and you will find a folder named "knot-2.9.5" (version number may differ), which contains the binaries and configuration files.

  2. Copy this folder to a safe location on your computer. We recommend copying it to the root of your C:\ drive.

  3. Open a Command Prompt window with administrative privileges by typing "cmd" in the Windows search bar, right-clicking on it, and selecting "Run as administrator."

  4. Navigate to the Knot folder by typing the following command into the Command Prompt window:

    cd C:\knot-2.9.5
    
  5. Once you are in the Knot folder, enter the following command to install Knot as a Windows service:

    knot.exe /service install
    
  6. The service installation should complete successfully. You can confirm this by typing the following command to check the status of the service:

    knot.exe /service status
    
  7. If the service is running, you can now start using Knot as your local DNS resolver.

Step 3: Configure Knot

By default, Knot is configured to listen on the loopback interface (127.0.0.1) on port 53. You can modify the configuration files located in the Knot folder to customize the settings, such as adding forwarders or changing the listening IP.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have installed Knot on your Windows 10 system. You now have a reliable and secure local DNS resolver in Knot.

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