Web Hosting Talk : Web Hosting Main Forums : Web Hosting : Windows Hosting : Why need 2 nameserver?

[tangteng]

Hi,
I'm currently hosting a website on a dedicated server with 1 IP address.

I noticed that there are 2 nameserver being registered at the host registra, is that necessary? I only have 1 IP and i only assign 1 nameserver (ns.mydomain.com instead of ns1.mydomain.com/ns2.mydomain.com) to mydomain.com.

Will there be any problme with only 1 nameserver?

Please advise.

regards,
teng

[bluewaveservers]

well... two nameservers are used because incase one goes down this can be used as a backup. I suggegst you try to obtain some extra IP addresses, from your datacenter, that or assign both nameservers to the same ip. It will work 100% but if one goes down they both do. Im not sure about only one

[tangteng]

Just thinking out loud.

does it make sense to have 1-2 IP that points to the same server?

unless i'm using 2 servers and 2 IP.

usually which one is more prone to 'breaking down', the server or the IP?

[iismech]

It's for redundancy, but as you pointed out, it makes no sense if the domain’s secondary nameserver is pointed to the same server as the primary nameserver.

[Nex7]

While it may not make sense since both ns1 and ns2 are the same IP, you still need to set them both up. It is required, and is an industry standard. It is better to disobey the standard/requirement by only having 1 IP for both than to not set up the second ns record at all.

[bluewaveservers]

Yay. For once i was right. You should really consider getting a new IP from your datacenter. They dont really cost the data center anything, most of the time. Call or email them.

[tangteng]

Thanks guys. In fact the dedicated server that i'd subscribe comes with 3 free IP adds. But right now, i'd only added in 1 IP and so far my website is working fine.

Not sure if i want to add in additional one since it's pointing to the same server anyway (furthermore, have to play aroudn with the hosting panel how to do that )

[jamesmoey]

Why don't you have a look at rollernet.us They provide the service you looking for, a secondary nameserver and it is free.

[6PS-Chris]

Most datacenters will be willing to work with you to be a slave DNS server for you. Look into that.

-Chris

[patternedsoftware]

some registrars require distinct IPs, as the rfc standard calls for. It is not enough to make two ns1,ns2 CNAME records which point to the same IP. Although I'm sure many registrars dont bother to check.

[ajackshosting]

All dedicated servers should come with 3 ips. 2 are for the nameservers and the third is used as the servers main ip. If you want your website on a dedicated ip you will really want to ask for more ips. I'm rather surprised that the dns entries where not already setup for you. Even with a dedicated server any host should have this setup for you before assigning it to you.

[hostingshouse]

but the sec0nd name server is optional... Indeed my friend used 2 run a company on one name server

[hermetek]

Originally Posted by ajackshosting

I'm rather surprised that the dns entries where not already setup for you. Even with a dedicated server any host should have this setup for you before assigning it to you.

Have your DNS server setup beforehand on an unmanaged box? I don't think so. Different users do different things with their boxes and most don't want them cluttered up by provider-installed software. Even most control panels require you to have a clean slate before installing them, and only in that case would I expect to find a DNS server set up. Furthermore, the IP's have to be tethered to the domain at the registrar... Something the DC usually cannot do.

The only DNS servers you should have set up for you on a dedicated box are in resolv.conf, and those serve a completely different purpose.