[Unbound](https://www.unbound.net/) is a validating, recursive, and caching DNS resolver. The C implementation of Unbound is developed and maintained by [NLnet Labs](https://www.nlnetlabs.nl/). It is based on ideas and algorithms taken from a java prototype developed by Verisign labs, Nominet, Kirei and ep.net. Unbound is designed as a set of modular components, so that also DNSSEC (secure DNS) validation and stub-resolvers (that do not run as a server, but are linked into an application) are easily possible.
Unbound may be useful on consumer grade embedded hardware. It is _intended_ to be a recursive resolver only. [NLnet Labs NSD](https://www.nlnetlabs.nl/projects/nsd/) is _intended_ for the authoritative task. This is different than [ISC Bind](https://www.isc.org/downloads/bind/) and its inclusive functions. Unbound configuration effort and memory consumption may be easier to control. A consumer could have their own recursive resolver with 8/64 MB router, and remove potential issues from forwarding resolvers outside of their control.
This package builds on Unbounds capabilities with OpenWrt UCI. Not every Unbound option is in UCI, but rather, UCI simplifies the combination of related options. Unbounds native options are bundled and balanced within a smaller set of choices. Options include resources, DNSSEC, access control, and some TTL tweaking. The UCI also provides an escape option and work at the raw "unbound.conf" level.
The UCI scripts will work with [net/adblock 2.3+](https://github.com/openwrt/packages/blob/master/net/adblock/files/README.md), if it is installed and enabled. Its all detected and integrated automatically. In brief, the adblock scripts create distinct local-zone files that are simply included in the unbound conf file during UCI generation. If you don't want this, then disable adblock or reconfigure adblock to not send these files to Unbound.
Some UCI options and scripts help Unbound to work with DHCP servers to load the local DNS. The examples provided here are serial dnsmasq-unbound, parallel dnsmasq-unbound, and unbound scripted with odhcpd.
### Serial dnsmasq
In this case, dnsmasq is not changed *much* with respect to the default OpenWRT/LEDE configuration. Here dnsmasq is forced to use the local Unbound instance as the lone upstream DNS server, instead of your ISP. This may be the easiest implementation, but performance degradation can occur in high volume networks. dnsmasq and Unbound effectively have the same information in memory, and all transfers are double handled.
In this case, Unbound serves your local network directly for all purposes. It will look over to dnsmasq for DHCP-DNS resolution. Unbound is generally accessible on port 53, and dnsmasq is only accessed at 127.0.0.1:1053 by Unbound. Although you can dig/drill/nslookup remotely with the proper directives.
You may ask, "can Unbound replace dnsmasq?" You can have DHCP-DNS records with Unbound and odhcpd only. The UCI scripts will allow Unbound to act like dnsmasq. When odhcpd configures each DHCP lease, it will call a script. The script provided with Unbound will read the lease file for DHCP-DNS records. You **must install**`unbound-control`, because the lease records are added and removed without starting, stopping, flushing cache, or re-writing conf files. (_restart overhead can be excessive with even a few mobile devices._)
Don't forget to disable or uninstall dnsmasq when you don't intend to use it. Strange results may occur. If you want to use default dnsmasq+odhcpd and add Unbound on top, then use the dnsmasq-serial or dnsmasq-parallel methods above.
Yes, there is a UCI to disable the rest of Unbound UCI. However, OpenWrt or LEDE are targeted at embedded machines with flash ROM. The initialization scripts do a few things to protect flash ROM.
All of `/etc/unbound` (persistent, ROM) is copied to `/var/lib/unbound` (tmpfs, RAM). Edit your manual `/etc/unbound/unbound.conf` to reference this `/var/lib/unbound` location for included files. Note in preparation for a jail, `/var/lib/unbound` is `chown unbound`. Configure for security in`/etc/unbound/unbound.conf` with options `username:unbound` and `chroot:/var/lib/unbound`.
Keep the DNSKEY updated with your choice of flash activity. `root.key` maintenance for DNSKEY RFC5011 would be hard on flash. Unbound natively updates frequently. It also creates and destroys working files in the process. In `/var/lib/unbound` this is no problem, but it would be gone at the next reboot. If you have DNSSEC (validator) active, then you should consider the age UCI option. Choose how many days to copy from `/var/lib/unbound/root.key` (tmpfs) to `/etc/unbound/root.key` (flash).
You like the UCI. Yet, you need to add some difficult to standardize options, or just are not ready to make a UCI request yet. The files `/etc/unbound/unbound_srv.conf` and `/etc/unbound/unbound_ext.conf` will be copied to Unbounds chroot directory and included during auto generation.
The former will be added to the end of the `server:` clause. The later will be added to the end of the file for extended `forward:` and `view:` clauses. You can also disable unbound-control in the UCI which only allows "localhost" connections unencrypted, and then add an encrypted remote `control:` clause.