DNS problems

[banjax]

I have a problem wit ha server, the DNS seems to have stopped working. None of the email systems of it work and the server can only be contacted on its IP address and not its name.

I assume it is a simple DNS failure or problem...

where is the best place to start to look?

thanks.
cavan.

 

[RhythmAce]

None of the email systems on it work? How many email systems do you have and how are they configured?

 

[QatQat]

is your server a primary DNS server or you are just hosting mail and your MX records are elsewhere?

QatQat

Life is what happens when you are making other plans.

 

[pansophic]

I'd start with dig and/or nslookup to see if the name is resolving, and if not what the SOA is set to.

If you are self-managing the DNS, you should be able to view your entire zone (zone transfers are typically blocked now). The name of that server must appear as a CNAME or an A record. The A record should have the IP of your host associated with it.

hostname1 IN A ip_addr
hostname2 IN CNAME hostname1

If your machine's name is hostname2, you need to find hostname1 and verify its IP address.

There should also be an MX record for that host.

IN MX 10 hostname2

The MX record is the record that is requested when a mail server tries to locate your mail server. You may have many MX records, but you need at least one.


pansophic