Setting up WHM, how do I use a private nameserver?

> However, I still think that rolling your own is the most useful way to go
> in terms of administrative control.


Guys, I am really very confused! I thought that the nameserver just
pointed the visitor to the right IP address?

My virtual host (of which I'm a reseller) set this up quite easily, it
was just a matter of assigning an IP address, then under my registrar,
I could manage the child nameserver to point to the right IP address.

What's the purpose behind a DNS service? What exactly does it do that
just typing in an IP address at the child nameserver location doesn't
do?

- J
 >> Stay informed about: Setting up WHM, how do I use a private nameserver? 

Fleeing from the madness of the http://groups.google.com jungle
Jason <jwcarlton.RemoveThis@gmail.com> stumbled into news:alt.www.webmaster
and said:

> Hi guys,
>
> I could ask this from my ded server manager, but I think you guys are
> faster, and usually more on-the-money.
>
> I've just set up a semi-managed server, and am setting up WHM for the
> first time. All of my accounts so far have been on a virtual server, so
> I'm trying to make this transition as smooth as possible.
>
> With the virtual server, for the DNS I always used ns1.mydomain.com and
> ns2.mydomain.com. Since I'll be transferring about 100 accounts, it
> would make the most sense to just change the IP under mydomain.com,
> which should then change all of the subsequent accounts.
>
> The thing is, I have no idea how to do this in WHM, and the
> documentation is not terribly detailed. I have several places that say
> "nameserver," but I'm not sure which one to use, or what to do when I
> get there.
>
> Have any of you set up WHM before? If so, how do I do this? Or, can you
> point me to an article with the answer?

migration to a new server is a bit like repainting on old room/car/boat -
all the real work is in the preparation.

find yourself a DNS service you are comfortable with - this should be
completely separate from your web and mail servers/services.

when you have it set up just-so, you can point all your domains at this
service. then changing the TTL & target ip will be trivial.

--
William Tasso

http://williamtasso.com/words/what-is-usenet.asp
 >> Stay informed about: Setting up WHM, how do I use a private nameserver? 

Fleeing from the madness of the http://groups.google.com jungle
Jason <jwcarlton RemoveThis @gmail.com> stumbled into news:alt.www.webmaster
and said:

>> find yourself a DNS service you are comfortable with - this should be
>> completely separate from your web and mail servers/services.
>
> Any recommendations on such a DNS service?

Right there at the top is: roll your own, you have complete control over
the content of the zone files

next up, your favourite search engine will reveal several resources, some
free, some low cost, others reassuringly expensive.

This looks promising: http://soa.granitecanyon.com/

others here have used: http://www.zoneedit.com/

I use a mix of my own servers and http://www.everydns.net/

> I'm getting billed by the
> virtual host on Sept 1, and I'm trying to avoid losing $200, but I'm
> afraid that it's inevitable now.

yep - you have to get your DNS sorted first - then it could easily take
several weeks before you have managed to migrate all your mail accounts
(and handled the consequent user issues).

Any databases involved?

Only when you have addressed all the above can you consider moving the web
sites.

Use the £200 of time wisely and you may just squeeze it all into one month.

btw: IIWY I would still chase down a whm solution just to see if it
provides the control/flexibility you need.

--
William Tasso

http://williamtasso.com/words/what-is-usenet.asp
 >> Stay informed about: Setting up WHM, how do I use a private nameserver? 

William Tasso wrote

> I use a mix of my own servers and http://www.everydns.net/

My only concern about them is:

"We are currently paying money out of our pocket to support EveryDNS.net
and would very much like to see donations begin to cover the cost of
runnning this great system."

http://www.everydns.net/donate.php

This puts me off them for long-term/serious use.

I came across this one before:

http://www.dyndns.com/

Haven't used it but I like the look of it.

--
Charles Sweeney
http://CharlesSweeney.com
 >> Stay informed about: Setting up WHM, how do I use a private nameserver? 

Fleeing from the madness of the No thank you jungle
Charles Sweeney <me DeleteThis @charlessweeney.com> stumbled into
news:alt.www.webmaster
and said:

> William Tasso wrote
>
>> I use a mix of my own servers and http://www.everydns.net/
>
> My only concern about them is:
>
> "We are currently paying money out of our pocket to support EveryDNS.net
> and would very much like to see donations begin to cover the cost of
> runnning this great system."
>
> http://www.everydns.net/donate.php
>
> This puts me off them for long-term/serious use.

Well (noting that nothing lasts forever) I made my 'donation' after trying
out on a few domains - service works well enough although the web
interface /is/ a little clumsy.

IIRC the account is limited to a few domains and sub-domains unless one
makes a donation. Then the account is unlocked and there are no practical
limits to the number of domains you can load up.

Been happily using the service for about two years now, so far it has
worked without fault.

There are other DNS services, but I haven't looked into them seriously
since my research over two years ago.

However, I still think that rolling your own is the most useful way to go
in terms of administrative control.

--
William Tasso

http://williamtasso.com/words/what-is-usenet.asp
 >> Stay informed about: Setting up WHM, how do I use a private nameserver? 

> Guys, I am really very confused! I thought that the nameserver just
> pointed the visitor to the right IP address?
>
> My virtual host (of which I'm a reseller) set this up quite easily, it
> was just a matter of assigning an IP address, then under my registrar,
> I could manage the child nameserver to point to the right IP address.
>
> What's the purpose behind a DNS service? What exactly does it do that
> just typing in an IP address at the child nameserver location doesn't
> do?


After much research, I found this link that describes a managed DNS
service pretty well (I thought):

http://domain.bigbytes.net/kb/servlet/KBServlet/cat124.html

>From what I understand, it basically sets up the resource records (A,
MX, CNAME, NS, and SOA) directly from the domain name registrar,
instead of the server.

The thing is, though, that my cPanel does does this same thing, so I
don't know why it's better to have it done by the registrar instead of
by cPanel.

- J
 >> Stay informed about: Setting up WHM, how do I use a private nameserver? 

Jason wrote:
>>Guys, I am really very confused! I thought that the nameserver just
>>pointed the visitor to the right IP address?
>>
>>My virtual host (of which I'm a reseller) set this up quite easily, it
>>was just a matter of assigning an IP address, then under my registrar,
>>I could manage the child nameserver to point to the right IP address.
>>
>>What's the purpose behind a DNS service? What exactly does it do that
>>just typing in an IP address at the child nameserver location doesn't
>>do?
>
>
>
> After much research, I found this link that describes a managed DNS
> service pretty well (I thought):
>
> http://domain.bigbytes.net/kb/servlet/KBServlet/cat124.html
>
>>From what I understand, it basically sets up the resource records (A,
> MX, CNAME, NS, and SOA) directly from the domain name registrar,
> instead of the server.
>
> The thing is, though, that my cPanel does does this same thing, so I
> don't know why it's better to have it done by the registrar instead of
> by cPanel.
>
> - J
>

Doesn't make much difference if you have the same reliability, options
and response. In fact, it doesn't have to be either your registrar or
host. It could easily be a third party.

--
==================
Remove the "x" from my email address
Jerry Stuckle
JDS Computer Training Corp.
jstucklex.TakeThisOut@attglobal.net
==================
 >> Stay informed about: Setting up WHM, how do I use a private nameserver?