Okay, this has been bugging me and I need some answers.

1) In normal cases, a domain requires 2 nameservers(Primary & Secondary servers)

Can I use Primary = Host1, Secondary = Host2
when Host1's server is down, will the Host2 server take over for the domain? Both Hosts will have the same files and Host2 acts as a backup in case Host1 is down. Will it work?

2) What is the purpose/function/advantage of having additional nameservers besides the required 2 namerservers for a domain? Sometimes I noted as much as 4 nameservers is being used for a domain.

Any help would be appreciated.

1) Yes

2) For Redundancy. The more the better. I know for my case and I assume for many others, the ns1 and ns2 are on the same server, so if the whole server goes down then I am in trouble. I suffer from this only due to lack of money and not being able to afford 2 servers which would preferably be on 2 different networks. A good solution would be to co operate with another server owner and ask them to host a nameserver for you.

Microsoft made a silly mistake too, if memory serves me right they put their nameservers on the same network and the network was down so the microsoft site was not accessible for some time.

What, Microsoft make a mistake?? NO!!! Get outta town!!! coughcoughWINDOWScoughMEcough

fruitsalad, microsoft never makes mistakes, it only adds features.

Thank you fruitsalad.

Redudency is why you have ns1 and ns2 ns3 and so on.
Microsoft outsource their dns to a big host who I'll not name. These dns servers are hosted on unix machines by the third party. Unix serving microsoft LOL.

Thanks for your reply madmatty

np

hehe my bad
FEATURES

Hotmail uses qmail as the SMTP server. THey tried to convert to exchange back in the day and it crashed the site. Microsoft made sure the public didn't hear about this. Kinda funny though. Convert from Unix to a Microsoft product and crash the whole site.