I am going to run a webserver on a computer running Windows 2000. I am unsure about how to setup the DNS. Do I need to get software? How do I set it up? I have a T1 line which has a block for 20 IP addresses which are for other computers to connect to the internet. I plan on only running one domain. I can assign a static IP to the computer that will be running the server. How do I configure the nameservers? Any help you can give me would be great.

G'day "everyone",

For a magnificent DNS package which is extremely well priced and fantastically efficient, take a look at http://www.jhsoft.com

They market simplednsplus. We have had it running with several thousand entries on NT boxes for many months now (must be close to a year) without incident.

I have no connection with jhsoft. I just like the package.

Best Regards,

That didn't answer his question.. jeez..

Why would you want 3rd party software.. when windows 2000 comes with it's nice DNS..?

If you want to do it right.. you'll need 2 IP address's for your DNS servers.. because domains require 2 DNS servers.. (doesn't mean that both name servers can't both be on the same machine)

You can use the same IP for both the domain and the DNS but the problem then is.. if they type in your name server as a domain.. bam they get your domain..

Example
mydomain.com is on 192.0.0.1 and
ns1.mydomain.com (typical name for name server is ns) 192.0.0.1

They'll both lead to the same place.. only enabling host headers would allow you to specify mydomain.com by name.. but then again host headers is not supported by older browsers.. (IE3, NS3 or something like that)

So my point being best to use 3 IP's 2 for your DNS servers and 1 for your domain.. if you can't spare the IP's then you can place 1 the name server and the domain together on the same IP and then use a free DNS service (sorry can't remember the name off hand) as your 2nd name server..

As for configuring your name server it's real simple in DNS when it asks you for name server give it a name.. mynameserver.mydomain.com and then assign it a IP
and use a HOST record to point to the IP of your web site.. lastly set that IP up for specific use on IIS (assuming your using IIS) otherwise IIS will broadcast your website on all known address's..

Hope I didn't muddle this post up.. ;)

Yep. That is what I would do. MS DNS is pretty nice and easy to use.

Thank you. I will try out the Win2000 DNS. Where is it located? How hard is it to set up? Anything that may be helpful? Thank you.

Start, Settings, Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs, Add/Remove Windows Components, Networking Services (double click to see choices)

It's as I said pretty easy to setup just run through the wizard..

(you do know that DNS is only part of Windows 2000 server though.. right?)

I heard EasyDNS is a pretty good and simple one

Originally posted by Ophelus
That didn't answer his question.. jeez..

Why would you want 3rd party software.. when windows 2000 comes with it's nice DNS..?

If you want to do it right.. you'll need 2 IP address's for your DNS servers.. because domains require 2 DNS servers.. (doesn't mean that both name servers can't both be on the same machine)

You can use the same IP for both the domain and the DNS but the problem then is.. if they type in your name server as a domain.. bam they get your domain..

Example
mydomain.com is on 192.0.0.1 and
ns1.mydomain.com (typical name for name server is ns) 192.0.0.1

They'll both lead to the same place.. only enabling host headers would allow you to specify mydomain.com by name.. but then again host headers is not supported by older browsers.. (IE3, NS3 or something like that)

So my point being best to use 3 IP's 2 for your DNS servers and 1 for your domain.. if you can't spare the IP's then you can place 1 the name server and the domain together on the same IP and then use a free DNS service (sorry can't remember the name off hand) as your 2nd name server..

As for configuring your name server it's real simple in DNS when it asks you for name server give it a name.. mynameserver.mydomain.com and then assign it a IP
and use a HOST record to point to the IP of your web site.. lastly set that IP up for specific use on IIS (assuming your using IIS) otherwise IIS will broadcast your website on all known address's..

Hope I didn't muddle this post up.. ;)

When you say it ask's for a server name and you give it : mynameserver.mydomain.com let's say my nameserver is ns1.bob.com and my domain name is www.bob.com that I would put in that spot ns1.bob.com.bob.com

I would also like to use MS DNS on a new server.

Thanks

Let me try to help :)

A. Install Windows 2000 DNS server
-----------------------------------------------------
1. Go to control panel, add/remove program, click on add/remove windows components, select networking, click on dns server
2. This will install your DNS server. You shouldn't have to reboot.

I am assuming that this will be a stand-alone DNS server. Not in a domain, not replicated from anywhere else and not in Active Directory.

B. Configure your DNS server
-----------------------------------------------------
1. Start, Program, Administrative Tools, DNS
2. Right click on your server and click configure DNS server
3. Just follow the wizard and say no if it ask you to configure your forward lookup zone (we'll do it later)
4. Click OK and finish

C. Configure your Forward Lookup Zone
------------------------------------------------------
1. Double click on your DNS server on the DNS MMC
2. Right click on forward lookup zone and select new zone.
3. Follow the wizard
4. You should have a forward lookup zone of yourdomain.com configured

D. Create a Zone entry
-------------------------------------------------------
1. You should create several zone entries on your Forward lookup zone.
2. At least it should contain
- A record : Your main DNS server IP address
- NS record : Your DNS server NS record

This is just a started to get your DNS server. you should work on replication if you have multiple DNS servers. You should also tweak your DNS server. A good book to read is the New Rider Windows 2000 DNS.

Have fun. Hope this helps

edwow

Not unless you install Active Directory should you have names like these "ns1.bob.com.bob.com"

Just click add under name servers and add your two names + the IP's there associated with..

For www. (which is in-fact a subdomain) you need to add a alias or host record (I recommend host as you can make the site pingable)

(hmm.. I used to have a screenshot for my post.. what happened to it.. odd) If you need one I'll get one for you..

Thanks for the replies, I will try this today. This will be set up as a IPLess domain system for multi domains under one IP with HC Controller, unless you see other concerns I need to be aware of.

I do thank you all for the help.

ok I have tried with ms dns it works great on my local network, I have tried a couple of websites from an outside connection and no go. page cannot be found.

What I do see in the status bar when I enter a domain name is the private IP address of the server the websites are on. this is from a computer from another location not tied in to my network.

My routers seam to be configured right, they work for the rest of the network.

anybody have an idea on this?

Thanks

I really don't follow your problem..

You must register your name server(s) with your registar (the .com, .net kind) and then your pages will translate onto the web.. Of course the standard 24-48 hour update applies to your new DNS servers be known to all standard DNS servers on the internet..

If your screwing around for fun with your DNS server and trying to host sites like for example yahoo.com or whatnot then you simply point your Internet or internal network to the DNS server IP's of your server..

no I am not screwing around, I have my own registered ns1 ns2 they work fine with my other servers using Simple DNS I just wanted to try MS DNS.