Is it necessary to run DNS on my RaQ? Can I shutdown DNS service? For security reasons, and my lack of experience in managing DNS, I would prefer to find a DNS service that will give me a web control panel to manage records for my domains and any client domains on my RaQ.

Is this possible, and if so can someone recommend a DNS service? The service needs to allow me to update A and MX records (am I missing anything?) for all domains.

rdrye,

It really wasn't necessary to post this message in multiple places likes this, we read all the topics :).

The short answer is no, in fact you are absolutely correct, if you do not know much about DNS don't run your own server, and shut the service down.

You should find out if your ISP will run DNS for you, if not, then you may want to look into:

http://www.zoneedit.com

I am looking at ZoneEdit and MyDomain (mydomain.com website is down, maybe not a good sign).

If I don't run my own DNS, then each domain I create need its own IP, right?

Nope :). You can point as many domains to an IP address as you want. Both Apache and IIS support name-based hosting, so this will not be a problem.

rdrye,

Do you already have a raq ?

Otherwise you could order one from 4webspace, they offer dns services with a simple control panel.
You can even have your own co-branded ns servers.