A Few Questions

R

revorge

Verified User
Joined
Jun 12, 2008
Messages
6
Hi,

I'm currently in the market for a dedicated server,
and can choice between several control panels
for this server. Right now my top choice is Directadmin,
as its fairly priced and seems to do everything i need.

- I have my domains hosted, at a Free DNS provider,
that I'm very pleased with, and therefore I would prefer
just pointing my A & MX records, at the Directadmin servers
ip. (Not utilizing DA's DNS capabilities). Is this possible with
Directadmin, - and how so?

- If I order a server with Directadmin installed, am i right in assuming,
that it automatically (as part of Directadmin) comes with apache,
mail-server, mysql , php, ftp and webmail installed? So that it is ready for
webhosting, without me doing anything, besides setting up users and so
through Directadmin?

Thanks in Advance!
 
First is possible, but is not recommended.
Second is possible too, DirectAdmin can compile php4,5,6, apache1.3,2.0,2.2, mysql4,5 and other server applications for you.
 
Sounds Great - Thanks for your answers!

- Any special reason, that using an external DNS service is
not recommended? I have no problem with having to manually
set up A & MX records, as I will only be hosting a limited number
of sites. Furthermore I prefer this solution, as getting nameservers
approved on the .dk TLD, is somewhat expense, and they have a
fairly strict rule set. I also prefer having as many server resources,
as possible dedicated to serving email and websites.

- Are there any technical reasons to why it is'nt recommended by
you? - Or is it just a matter of personal preference. :)
 
Well, yes and no.

DirectAdmin creates the zone file and requires it exists. If you don't want to use it, then don't, but if you don't, make sure all the records (not just A and MX, but also TXT, NS, etc.) are the same.

Or make sure you don't use your own nameserver for recursive DNS in your hosts file.

If you don't know enough about DNS and the ramifications of getting it wrong, even on your own server, then it's best to let DirectAdmin handle it.

Jeff

Jeff
 
- So I basically just clone all the dns records, that DA setup in its DNS Management panel, to my external DNS Provider? (and then everything should be okay?) As far as NS records go, I can clone them, but my DNS providers name servers, are stil listed above them, so they wont be used (Is that okay). Can I turn off DAs DNS abilities then? (As described here:
http://help.directadmin.com/item.php?id=25).

- I see now, that my DNS provider can also provide Secondary DNS, if the primary server allows AFXR from there IPs. Is this a solution i could use instead? I mean so that my external dns providers nameservers is still listed, at the TLD hostmaster as primary dns, - but those nameservers are in fact cloning the settings from DAs build in dns server? (Did that make any sense, - and is it possibly, - what would be easiest?)


- Thanks for your help.
 
Last edited:
- I see now, that my DNS provider can also provide Secondary DNS, if the primary server allows AFXR from there IPs. Is this a solution i could use instead? I mean so that my external dns providers nameservers is still listed, at the TLD hostmaster as primary dns, - but those nameservers are in fact cloning the settings from DAs build in dns server? (Did that make any sense, - and is it possibly, - what would be easiest?)
Click to expand...
But what will be use of it? The records will be the same. And I am absolutely sure, that there is no special rule for that provider in .dk registry :)
By default, directadmin creates absolutely correct records, even .ee and .pp.ru are parking. So, I won't see any problems, if you placed DNS to your server.
If you don't want, this may cause some problems like misconfiguration or invalidation of your dns records.
 
proHSP said:
But what will be use of it? The records will be the same. And I am absolutely sure, that there is no special rule for that provider in .dk registry :)
By default, directadmin creates absolutely correct records, even .ee and .pp.ru are parking. So, I won't see any problems, if you placed DNS to your server.
If you don't want, this may cause some problems like misconfiguration or invalidation of your dns records.
Click to expand...

The use would be, that i don't have to register the DA nameservers,
with the dk-hostmaster.dk, as they charge approximately 100$ US
for each approved nameserver, and require that you have 2
servers on different ips and subnets. Also they must have AFXR
access to the servers, and require some sort of proff, that you have dns
experience (whatever that means).

- I dont want to pay that money, as i right now have excellent and
free dns hosting, and the number of domains i'll be hosting, dont warrent
the cost.

So if its possibly to get everything working, by just cloning the DA DNS
records to my external dns provider, then i would greatly prefer that.

- Once again thanks for your interest and help, with my questions.
 
revorge said:
The use would be, that i don't have to register the DA nameservers,
with the dk-hostmaster.dk, as they charge approximately 100$ US
for each approved nameserver, and require that you have 2
servers on different ips and subnets. Also they must have AFXR
access to the servers, and require some sort of proff, that you have dns
experience (whatever that means).

- I dont want to pay that money, as i right now have excellent and
free dns hosting, and the number of domains i'll be hosting, dont warrent
the cost.

So if its possibly to get everything working, by just cloning the DA DNS
records to my external dns provider, then i would greatly prefer that.

- Once again thanks for your interest and help, with my questions.
Click to expand...

Hm, in this way, there is really some use to use the external dns.
If you copy all the records from DirectAdmin dns management to your free dns provider, everything must be ok, but if you change site's ip, add a new subdomain or do something else like this, there might be a mishmash with actual and remote dns records.
 
proHSP said:
Hm, in this way, there is really some use to use the external dns.
If you copy all the records from DirectAdmin dns management to your free dns provider, everything must be ok, but if you change site's ip, add a new subdomain or do something else like this, there might be a mishmash with actual and remote dns records.
Click to expand...

Alright, - then we agree :)

- I just wanted to be sure, that cloning / copying the records to my external dns
provider would work. I have been using the external dns for years, so I now how
to setup the records, and the dangers of not keeping the dns records op to date.

I can disable the DA DNS Service as described here:
http://help.directadmin.com/item.php?id=25 right? I mean, theres no point
in having that service running, if im using external dns anyway.
 
I have now ordered the server, with Directadmin control panel, and
am looking forward to having everything up and running....

- On further thought, - cant I just stop the named service through
the control panel, instead of using the command line, as described in
the above link?
 
It would appear you could, but after all the link was written by DirectAdmin staff; if you're questioning it, you should probably ask them :).

Jeff
 
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