a little dns help needed - 1 IPv4

E

EFW

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Joined
Feb 12, 2013
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13
Hi folks,

I've taken the plunge and got a small VPS server running Centos with 1 IPv4 address. I will be installing DA soon, but have a question about DNS. I have a domain registered at namepcheap, I have set the names server's with cloudns. (ns1/ns2/ns3).

Now, if I install DA and set the main domain name server to (ns1.cloudns.net/ns2.cloudns.net/ns3.cloudns.net) Will each new domain I add using DA be using cloudns for the names server?

I'm a little confused since, I understand that I need 2 IP's to use ns1.mydomain.com/ns2.mydomain.com. Thats why I have got an account on cloudns.net

Some help and advise would be great.

Thanks efw
 
It wont matter as long as you put your nameservers on your domain settings at your registrar nothing will even know about the nameserver on your server.
 
Well, yes and no, @chatwizrd. NS records will still exist (possibly incorrect records) in your host zone files, and under certain circumstances, DNS searches will find them.

@EFW:

Best to set DirectAdmin to use the nameservers at cloudns.net.

And of course you'll need to manually maintain the zone files at ClouDNS.net unless you figure out how to get your server to interface with their API so your server will work as a hidden master.

Jeff
 
Hi,

Would this work:

Create ns1.mydomain.com points to myserver's IP
Create ns2.mydomain.com points to ns2.cloudns.net's IP

if not, is there another way using just 1 IP?

Regards

Kevin
 
You could but ns2 would never be used unless you have a way to propagate the domain list on cloudns servers and use them as a slave. Which could be possible if they have an API but you would have to make scripts to add and delete domains. It also matters if they allow you to use them as a slave dns server or not.
 
Hi folks,

I understand, I can't really use/borrow another DNS in that way. So I really need a second IP. My current VPS offers and extra IP for 2 euros per month. I've had a quick look, and found various 'mini' VPS for around $20.

So, what I was thinking was getting a second cheap VPS and setting up a second DNS on it. I thinking, that I get a second IP, also I get some redundancy if my ns1.* goes down, I have a backup. I was also thinking of using it for a mail back too.

I'm not sure on what specs of VPS I would need to run CentOS 6, DNS (bind) and Mail (exim). There will be nothing else on there, other than the services I need. Would 128mb/256mb swap, 10gb HDD and 250gig be Ok for those? or ?

Thanks again

Kevin
 
You could just point ns1 and ns2 at the same ip address. There seriously is no point in having 2 nameservers on the same server or even on the same network unless they have bgp protection and even with bgp protection I wouldnt even call it a good idea. If you really care you could buy a 2nd vps for another nameserver, but it probably isnt needed. You will need more ips if your customers want ssl certificates or their own nameservers or something though. Its up to you if you want to spend more money for another server or not.
 
EFW said:
I'm not sure on what specs of VPS I would need to run CentOS 6, DNS (bind) and Mail (exim). There will be nothing else on there, other than the services I need. Would 128mb/256mb swap, 10gb HDD and 250gig be Ok for those? or ?
Click to expand...
Your specs don't make sense to me, but the smallest VPS servers will handle your DNS and using Exim for mail redundancy is a lot more complex than you'd think; be sure to read up on it and make sure you understand all the issues (including the spam issue) before deciding you really want redundant email.

I can point you to the company I use for very small VPS servers for slave DNS; send me an email for a company where you can get two for under $20.

Jeff
 
chatwizrd said:
You could just point ns1 and ns2 at the same ip address.
Click to expand...
You could. But if you do, then some TLDs (some European ones, for example) may not let you assign your nameservers. I've seen this behavior in the past.
There seriously is no point in having 2 nameservers on the same server or even on the same network unless they have bgp protection and even with bgp protection I wouldnt even call it a good idea.
Click to expand...
I'm not sure what BGP (Border Gate Protocol) has to do with this; BGP is used to publish routing tables for an IP# when multiple routes exist to one IP#, it has nothing to do with multiple IP#s. Datacenters with multiple carriers, for example, often use BGP so if you've got a server with them and one of their carriers go down, they can advertise a different route (using a different carrier) to your IP#.

The main purpose I see for having redundant DNS on different networks is so that if your network goes down and someone (say Google, for example) visits your site(s) they'll get a Server temporarily unavailable error instead of a Site does not exist error.

Which could result in your visitor giving up on you and never coming back, or even worse, Google doing the same.

Jeff
 
Hi,

I found a few cheap vps deals. Those specs in my post were the vps specs you get on the server - 128mb dedicated memory, 256mb swap, 10gb hdd and 250gb bandwidth per month. As I am new to hosting, I was not 100% if those specs are ok for what I require.

There is an example of a vps under $20 - https://www.quickpacket.com/billing/cart.php?gid=6

Thanks

Kevin
 
Sorry it took so long to get back to you. The forum doesn't let new users post links without them needing to be approved first. I removed the link because most of us here are in the hosting business.

My guess would be that a server that small would probably handle slave DNS but it'll be up to you to get it set up on your server. I don't recommend a second MX because of the complexities, and I don't believe you'd get it running on such a small capacity server.

Jeff
 
Hi

Many thanks for replying. I fully understand about the new users posting. Anyway, I've been reading up on running a second/backup MX server, and I see what you mean, a little complicated.

Thanks

Kev
 
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