Hello all, this is my first thread here

DNS setting for Cobalt (4 dummies )

We've just got some cobalt boxes to see how are these babies,
well I dont like them so far :-)
any way,
for having your own DNS, go trough these easy steps:

1) Buy a domain :-)
2) get 1 additional IP from RackShack.net
3) now you have 2 IPs , go to your registrar, go to your domain setting or control panel in your registrar, and register ns1.yourdomain.com , ns2.yourdomain.com AS DNS.
4) when you register NS1 and NS2 with domain registrar, remember to use your server MAIN ip address for NS1 and the second IP address that you got from RackShack for NS2.

5) you are getting close

6) login to your http://mainIP/admin
7) goto Site Management, then goto Add virtual Site
IP Address : your Main IP address
Host Name : NS1
Domain Name : yourdomain.com
Confirm New User

9) IP Address : your Second IP address
Host Name : NS2
Domain Name : yourdomain.com
Confirm New User

10) Getting so close :-)

11) Click on Control panel, go and find Domain Name System (DNS) Server, enable it if it is not. at the right you have Parameters...
click on it

12) at the top select add (A) record
13) Host Name = NS1 Domain Name = yourdomain.com IP Address = Main IP
14) click to add, add another (A) record
15) Host Name = NS2 Domain Name = yourdomain.com IP Address = Second IP
16) select "Add Reverse Address (PTR) Record "
17) IP Address : main IP Network Mask (24 by default) Host Name : NS1 Domain Name : yourdomain.com
18) add Another reverese Address PTR
19) IP Address : Second IP Network Mask (24 by default) Host Name : NS2 Domain Name : yourdomain.com
20) Reboot the system


that's all ! trust me
(if you want to make sure, in control panel, click on network, and check settings too)

after a day or so begin to ping ns1.yourdomain.com to see when it will come up, it might take up tp 3-4 days based on your domain registrar.(or even 5 days some times)

~ BigMaster Inc

I appreciate the DNS guide - very helpful!

One question, though. What do I do with the domain that Rackshack set up when they gave me the server? It uses Rackshack's nameservers.

Just wondering if I should keep it that way or bind it to my new nameservers?

Sure,

well, I did not get my domain from RS, but in your case
I would first point another domain to myserver with my own DNS , when ever my domain shows up, Then you can change the other domain to point to your DNS.

Hi,

I appreciate the quick reply. The server was one of those bargain basement deals that I purchased on a whim. RS makes you provide a domain name when you fill out the signup form, so I entered a name without giving it much thought. I figured the name would be used to identify the machine on the network - I didn't know that they would go ahead and create a site with it and add it to their nameservers.

Anyway, I'm not too crazy about the domain I picked, so I'm wondering if the site can be deleted once my nameservers propagate or if it is somehow required for the network.

Mike

well,
I am pretty new here too, it is my first time using RaQ 4,
I think after you made sure your dns is working fine, you can change your domain dns to your own dns if you wish,
I would also think about getting better possible name, and point new name to new name servers.

but again, it should not be a problem...

Thanks for your tutorial! I have followed every step, but I am still having problems!!! I registered ns1/ns2.mydomain.com many days ago and they should have gone through now, but when I do a lookup I get nothing!!!

What can be wrong, the DNS is setup exactly to your instructions. mydomain.com (my main domain) is listed in the RS DNS and I also added the ns1/ns2 subdomains to the RS DNS. What can be wrong? I have also used another domain to point to my new DNS in order to test the DNS...

Thanks for your help!

Michael

oom,

I had nothing to do with RS dns section,
First, make sure your server is cobalt server.
second, dns registration can take up to 3-4 days or even more some times.

right now you should have this:

you should have virtual site for ns1.yourdomain.com
ns2.yourdomain.com

then in DNS setting in your server ( NOT RS ) goto settings for ns1.yourdomain.com
and you should have ns1.yourdomain.com -> main ip
also
216.12.212.17/24 -> ns1.yourdomain.com
DNS setting is in control panel section, parameters link,
you should have same things for ns2 with second IP as well.

Good luck

ops,

goto control panel
click on network(top)
make sure you have correct setting,
cobalt servername: ns1....
domain name: localhost or ..
Primary DNS Server Address : main ip
Secondary DNS Server Address : second ip

Yes that is what I have done! I have now removed the subdomains that I submitted to RS DNS. Maybe the RS DNS was causing a conflict...

Are you sure its necessary to change the network settings? I have seen other tutorials and none mention that...

Thanks

Well,
Thats what i have in my network setting
what do you have?
dont you have your Ip addresses listed there ?

Thanks alot. Followed the steps and it worked first time, saving me alot of time.

sure :-)
glad to hear that

In the event of a terminal crash - end result being a newly restored raq - will having to restore the DNS configuration add days (for propagation) to recovery. i think not since the DNS info should be cached elsewhere, but i just want to know for sure.
what would be the effect of creating ns1.domain.com on an ip other than the main server ip? say, on two IPs that were just added.
any other thoughts on disaster recovery for a single server running its own dns?

thanks!

BigMaster, sorry to trouble you but if you have time can you do a step by step for setting up mx records. Having trouble getting them working, and your guide for setting up nameservers worked first time so with your guidance hopefully so will my mx records.

Thanks in advance.

No problem,
I would love to share if i know myself,

MX records took me 1 day to figure out last week!
hope it wont take you more than 5 min
in site setting for domain you should have mail.domain.com as mail server

after that go to control panel dns settings...
go select domain
then you should make MX record at the top right like this
host : nothing first time
domain: domain.com
mail server : www.domain.com (note the www not mail !! strange huh ?)
second MX record:
host: www
domain: domain.com
mail server: www.domain.com

then goto control panel. mail server setting
you will have domain.com inside Host/Domain Aliases
that should be all :-)

Once again your instructions work first time, many thanks

I had a nameserver setup with the raq4 but am having to start afresh.

I have 2 ip addresses for ns1 and ns2 that are different from the main ip address. What do I need to do differently? I have tried following your instructions without success.

if first IP is not same as your Main IP, ( for example reseller IP) just create a virtual host for ns1.domain.com ns2.doamin.com
and in DNS setting in control panel have thier host names(ns1 and ns2) point to yout IPs.
make sure you create virtual hosts based on each Ns's ip, means have virtual host for ns1.domain.com on ip of ns1.domain.com
and ns2. as well

hope it helps.

Thanks, I have done that now, but what about steps 16 to 19? Is the reverse address record (ptr) using the ns1/2 ip's or the site ip?

And in the network page is the primary and secondary dns server address the ns1/2 or the main site ip?

Thank you for your time, I am really stuck on this before I can get everything else working.

if these IP addresses are different than your main IP, you dont need to do any thing else, you should be able to ping your dns to see if it is working or not.

I can ping and see in a web browser ns1 and ns2 and the main domain name and ip address. I cannot ping any of the other sites with the same ip as the main site. Thier domain names are not resolving to the virtual site, although I can connect via ftp and upload to the sites.

I got little confused.
PM me on m2610259@yahoo.com

Hi! Thanks for this guide, it is very helpful

I have a question, do i have to add ns1.domainname and ns2.domainname to RS DNS?

Thank for the help!

No, as you should have registered the nameservers (Name Server Host Records) with whoever you registered your domain with.

Hi, thanks for the excellente guide.

I have a question:

I'm hosting 2 sites which use their own IPs as they are using SSL certificates.

If I go to these sites registar and change RS DNS, which ones should I use ? my new NS1 & NS2 ?

or should I create and use NS1 & NS2 for each of these domains - in which case I would need to use 2 IPs per domain - ?

Thanks in advance

Cheers

My DNS server setup is not working on my RA4I.
Here is what i have done:


I bought a mynameserver.com and my registrar set this up:
ns1.mynameserver.com 123.12.123.1
ns2.mynameserver.com 123.12.123.2 (the second ip i got from RS)
By the way, mynameserver.com points to my registrar DNS ns1.registrar.com
(don't know if i need to change this to my own DNS)

1) Went to "Site Management", then "Add virtual Site"

2) IP Address : 123.12.123.1
Host Name : NS1
Domain Name : mynameserver.com
Confirmed New User

3) IP Address : 123.12.123.2
Host Name : NS2
Domain Name : mynameserver.com
Confirmed New User


4) Under "Control Panel", then "Domain name system";

A) at the top selected add (A) record
B) Host Name = NS1
Domain Name = mynameserver.com
IP Address = 123.12.123.1

C) Clicked add, add another (A) record
D) Host Name = NS2
E) Domain name = mynameserver.com
F) IP Address = 123.12.123.2



Also i have created "users" under "Site management" for Virtual sites:
ns1.mynameserver.com and ns2.mynameserver.com


In "Network"
Sun Cobalt Server Name: ns1
Domain Name: localhost (if i put mynameserver.com here it says that it exists as a virtual site)
Primary DNS Server Address : 123.12.123.1
Secondary DNS Server Address: 123.12.123.2
(optional)
Default Gateway (left what was already there)

Below:
"Interface Settings - Network 1"
IP Address: 123.12.123.1
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
MAC Address; (left what was already there)

"Interface Settings - Network 2"
Nothing filled


I did a ping test and it's alive and with the right IP's
Been jerking around like this for 4 days !!!!!!!!!!!

Anything you could think of even if you think it's stupid might help a
"desperate newbie"
Thanks

Can anyone from RS post a "how to" as i'm sure this will happen a lot of times !!!!

Damn, i think i got it !!

Just to keep you updated in case it happens to you or someone else.

In "Network" under control panel (raq4i)
You just need to change the first ip to your main ip and the second
ip to the one you requested from RS
You leave the "www" and the "domainname.com" like it is as the box is registered at RS like this.

Damn "newbie" grgrgrgrgrgrgrgrg
hehehehehe

I'M HAPPY
Now, firewalls and backups ggggggggggeeeeeeeeeeeeeee........

I actually requested two additional IPs from rackshack and registered the name servers. Would it be alright if I used those two IPs assigned to my server as the primary and secondary servers? Or do I have to use the Main Server IP and another additional IP?

Please advise.

Thanks,
Gary

you can use any IP