This is what I want to do:

Server1
ns1.domain.com
ns2.domain.com

Server2
ns3.domain.com
ns4.domain.com

Is this possible? Both are runnning Plesk 2.5. How do I setup the DNS in the two servers?

So far, I have to register a new domain name for each server I have which is inefficient.

Thanks in advance!

I don't see the use of giving one server two names ?

Why do you want to do that ?
Is it running multiple instances of named/bind ?

twrs,

If you are running BIND as your DNS server then you dont need to do anything

Take 2 ip's 1.2.3.1 and 1.2.3.2 from machine 1 and use them for ns1.domain.com and ns2.domain.com [register this with internic thru your registrar] I am assuming you are using them as authoritative nameservers for domain.com.

Then take 2 ip's from machine 2, say 2.1.2.1 and 2.1.2.2 and create zone records in your 1st server for ns3.domain.com and ns4.domain.com with these ip's

[Now I dont know whether you necessarily need to register them with internic as nameservers but i have done it and it is working fine]

Bind will automatically listen to all IP's on the machine, so you
Go have a beer and relax.

Cheers
Balaji

PS: DNS masters, if this fool has blundered, just dont flame me - help twrs!

I'm using stargateinc to register my domains and they do have the feature to create the nameserver hosts (ns1/ns2). Is it okay? Or do I have to go to Internic again to register the nameservers?

And what kind of zone records in should I add in the 1st server for ns3.domain.com and ns4.domain.com?

Sorry, but I'm a complete newbie in the confusing world of DNS... :stickout

Okay, I have another DNS question, please shed me some lights... :D

This is what I want to do:

Server1
ns1.domain.com
ns2.domain.com

How do I use this nameserver configuration in Server1 to serve domains in other servers (multiple servers use same nameservers)? Do they need to reside in the same location? Do I have to create Server1 as a dedicated DNS server and not hosting any domains there?

Sorry twrs,

Weekends I generally dont visit WHT; only in the office where we have a 2Mbps line and plenty of time!


To answer your questions:

you cant register nameservers with Internic directly, your registrar can do it for you [yes use stargate]

just put an A record for ns3.domain,com in the ns1 server and point it to the IP of the second server

similarly for ns4

And dont worry we are all newbies when it comes to DNS; some are more newbies thats all!

Cheers
Balaji

Originally posted by twrs
Okay, I have another DNS question, please shed me some lights... :D

This is what I want to do:

Server1
ns1.domain.com
ns2.domain.com

How do I use this nameserver configuration in Server1 to serve domains in other servers (multiple servers use same nameservers)? Do they need to reside in the same location? Do I have to create Server1 as a dedicated DNS server and not hosting any domains there?

Firstly, servers dont need nameservers; only domains do.

The hierarchy is like this:

.com is in Internic's authority

yourdomain.com is in the authority of the server where your authoritative nameservers point to

[that is if ns1.domain.com and ns2.domain.com are the nameservers for your domain.com then the server that has the IP's of these nameservers is the authentic info holder of where your domain.com's zone records are]

Lets say timbaktu.com is your domain with ns1.timbaktu.com in 1.2.3.4 and ns2.timbaktu.com in 5.6.7.8

Scenario

You want to host xanadu.com in another server with IP block 11.12.13.14 - 11.12.13.45

Options:

Option1

Assign 11.12.13.14 to ns3.timbaktu.com [that is create an A record for ns3.timbaktu.com pointing to 11.12.13.14 in your server with 1.2.3.4]

and assign 11.12.13.15 to ns4.timbaktu.com [create A record in 1st server]

Register these [ns3 & ns4] with internic thru stargate

Create the zone records for xanadu.com in the second server - that is @,www and MX records for xanadu.com -make sure you put an IP of the second server here

Change the nameservers of xanadu.com to ns3.timbaktu.com and ns4.timbaktu.com

Restart BIND in the second server

Go have a beer

Option 2

Create zone records of xanadu.com in the first server but point the www and MX records to second server

{Here you are hosting the DNS of xanadu.com in the first server and the web and mail hosting on the second server}

restart BIND in the first server

Go have a beer

In both options the last step is very important and dont forget it! Beer has been know to prevent DoS and DDoS attacks and also guarantees 110% uptime! ;)


If all this is confusing send me an email or catch me on YIM, quillbox@yahoo.com and I will see if I can be of any use

Cheers
Balaji

Balaji, thanks for the info and the beer tips! :D

Originally posted by MotleyFool
Option 2

Create zone records of xanadu.com in the first server but point the www and MX records to second server

{Here you are hosting the DNS of xanadu.com in the first server and the web and mail hosting on the second server}

restart BIND in the first server
[/B]

Option 2 is what I wanted to do so I can use the same nameservers for multiple domains on multiple servers.

How exactly do I create the zone records of xanadu.com in the first server, but point the www and MX records to the second server?

And how do I restart BIND?

http://forum.plesk.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1384

Works almost excelent

Thanks, sounds like what I needed.