PowerDNS Recursor

Spec sheet

Purpose

PowerDNS Recursor is a recursive DNS resolver and caching server that resolves client queries through the global DNS system.Read 30 Sep 2026 · powerdns.com

Intended users

PowerDNS describes Recursor as a DNS service for internet service providers and their subscribers, and says it is used in large-scale DNS deployments.Read 30 Sep 2026 · powerdns.com

Deployment

Recursor can be installed on bare metal, virtual machines, or as a virtualized or cloud-native network function.Read 30 Sep 2026 · powerdns.com

API

The product annex lists REST-based APIs, SQL-based APIs, and password-protected TCP/IP text-based control among PowerDNS platform interfaces.Read 30 Sep 2026 · powerdns.com

Security

The Recursor supports DNSSEC processing and validation, with configurable validation modes.Read 30 Sep 2026 · doc.powerdns.com

Support

Commercial support offers multiple SLA-defined service levels, including office-hours and 24/7 availability; community users have separate support resources.Read 30 Sep 2026 · powerdns.com

Headquarters

PowerDNS.com B.V. lists its address in The Hague, the Netherlands.Read 30 Sep 2026 · powerdns.com

Company history

PowerDNS says its development started in 1999 and PowerDNS.com B.V. was registered on October 31, 2000.Read 30 Sep 2026 · powerdns.com

Downloads

PowerDNS provides the Recursor as source code, installable Linux packages, and Docker images.Read 30 Sep 2026 · powerdns.com

Monitoring and integration

Recursor exposes metrics for integration with existing monitoring and alerting solutions and can provide automated periodic DNS status reports.Read 30 Sep 2026 · powerdns.com

Open source

PowerDNS identifies Recursor as open-source software and says it released its code under the GPL license in 2002.Read 30 Sep 2026 · powerdns.com

Performance

Its threaded architecture is designed to use system resources efficiently and minimize contention between CPU cores.Read 30 Sep 2026 · powerdns.com

Scripting

Lua scripts can modify resolving behavior, including load balancing, blocking dangerous domains, and overriding problematic responses.Read 30 Sep 2026 · doc.powerdns.com

Threat intelligence

The product annex says Recursor supports major threat intelligence and content categorization providers, with feeds offering blocklists and allowlists.Read 30 Sep 2026 · powerdns.com

Traffic protection

PowerDNS says the platform analyzes incoming DNS traffic for suspicious patterns and can selectively block traffic that exceeds configured thresholds.Read 30 Sep 2026 · powerdns.com

Plans and prices

Every PowerDNS Recursor plan and price →

Where Specifiction places it

• DNS Server Software#14 of 237.6