Suggestion: easier ways to turn DNS, mail and web hosting on and off individually on a domain?

john.robinson

New member
Joined
Nov 20, 2020
Messages
2
Location
Edinburgh, UK
I provide DNS, mail and web hosting facilities to my customers using DirectAdmin - but I don't necessarily always want to provide all three. In particular with several using Office 365, I would like just run their web site. Or for people using other tools for their web site e.g. Wix, I just want to provide DNS and email. The UI isn't terribly helpful for managing these combinations, and really I'd like to be asked at the time I add a domain which services I want, and be able to change them in the principal domain admin screen, at the User level. The functionality's kind of there, but not all at User level, and there are interactions that cause error messages.

Now, DNS isn't that big a deal - I can use the Admin level DNS admin to remove their zone. And in any case, since my DirectAdmin is a stealth primary, I can tell my advertised DNS servers not to slave from my DNS. It would still be good to have a nice big button in the User level admin to turn DNS off, though, and for other areas which appear to depend on DNS (such as MX Records -> Local Mail Server) not to give an error when you've turned off DNS and now want to turn off Local Mail Server.

And I guess the web bit isn't that big a deal either; as long as the DNS doesn't point to my DirectAdmin box, it isn't going to be used, but it does mean config is in place, and potentially processes like php-fpm pointlessly running for the user. It would still be good to have a nice big button in the User level admin to turn off web hosting, and if DNS is enabled, have a place to enter the IP(s) of the actual web server(s).

Finally I know I can turn off email using the MX Records -> Local Mail Server feature, but that leaves all the other email settings still in place - it would still be good to have a nice big button in the User level admin to turn off local email, and if DNS is enabled, have a place to enter the actual MX servers.

So yes it would be good to have easier ways to turn hosting elements off and on.

Cheers,

John.
 
I just want to provide DNS and email.

Its an old guide but might lead you somewhere https://help.directadmin.com/item.php?id=271

In general the DA panel is not built to work the way you are describing. Neither is cPanel or interworx. Plesk maybe comes closest. In general if you research DA in the forums and follow the history. Its designed to be a light gui with limited granularity. Like most things designed for the masses, but customizable if you need it to be. I am sure your devops team can make it what you need it to be. You can alway ask for enhancements, if the masses dont want them you won't likely get them.
 
Back
Top