Per-Domain DNS Configuration on macOS

Setup

Create a resolver file for your domain:

sudo bash -c 'echo "nameserver 10.0.0.1" > /etc/resolver/nst.local'

This tells macOS to use 10.0.0.1 as the DNS server for any *.nst.local domain.

Multiple Nameservers

Add multiple DNS servers:

sudo bash -c 'cat > /etc/resolver/internal.company.com << EOF
nameserver 10.0.0.1
nameserver 10.0.0.2
domain internal.company.com
search internal.company.com
EOF'

Verify Configuration

Check your resolver file:

cat /etc/resolver/nst.local

Test DNS resolution:

scutil --dns

Remove Configuration

Delete the resolver file when done:

sudo rm /etc/resolver/nst.local

Common Use Cases

VPN Development:

sudo bash -c 'echo "nameserver 192.168.1.1" > /etc/resolver/dev.local'

Kubernetes Local Development:

sudo bash -c 'echo "nameserver 10.96.0.10" > /etc/resolver/cluster.local'

Company Intranet:

sudo bash -c 'echo "nameserver 172.16.0.1" > /etc/resolver/corp.example.com'