How to Configure DNS in Linux?

[Ovatvvon]

I've primarily worked with Windows Servers (NT 4 / 2000) in the past. Due to the price, the software that thinks it's smarter than me, and many more reasons, I've decided to take the recommendation of migrating part of my [small] network to Linux.

Since I'm a beginner with Linux, and it is quite different from windows (even in the GUI), I'm wondering if someone can give me explicit directions of how I can configure the two [Mandrake 8.0] Linux machines as DNS servers? I've already installed teh O.S. and setup the firewall through the basic "wizard-style" process. For the moment I only want to use them as DNS servers, and I'll be learning/exploring the O.S. on another machine. Can someone explain to me how to edit the actual file I need to for DNS? [Including how to even pull up the file (i.e. through the console.)]

Any help would be greatly appreciated while on my new Trek. Thanks.

-Ovatvvon :-Q

 

[MarineBoy]

You need the package BIND9. The easiest way I have found to set up a Server is to use Debian. There are HOWTO documents on the Web, start at

http://www.linux.org.

 

[thedaver]

There is definitely a requirement to use BIND9 for your DNS software. Technically there are others, but let's not go there for now.

Given that, you'll need to install that software on your distro. This is most definitely an application that is pre-packaged and should be dirt easy to install.

The generation of the "named.conf" and the "zone files" are the main areas of concern for you.

I think it would be a REALLY BAD IDEA for anyone here to even try to represent this as something that can be lightly discussed in this forum.

There are countless FAQs and other documents on the web on this topic.

CONFIGURATION of DNS is a major element of a healthy global Internet operation and should not be engaged lightly. It's not hard, but isn't something to be glossed over in a quick Tek-Tips discussion.

I recommend:

http://www.tldp.org/

And specifically you should google around for "bind9 configuration", "bind9 zone files", "bind9 utility".

There are also bind9 configuration file generators on Freshmeat.net which can significantly lighten the load.

Please take this note as a constructive message. I'm pleased to see you making the effort to get going and I wish you luck. However, you MUST educate yourself on this topic. This is not a trivial item either effort-wise or in the impact a poor configuration can have.







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[Ovatvvon]

Can you please explain to me what "bind9" is exactly?

-Ovatvvon :-Q

 

[franklin97355]

Ovatvvon: thedaver just did that in the last post.

 

[thedaver]

BIND (Berkeley Internet Naming Daemon, I believe)

http://www.isc.org/bind/

Your lack of understanding of what BIND is more or less validates my assertion that BIND/BIND9 are not appropriate topics to generally discuss here. Sorry if I'm being a hardass about this one......

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[lgarner]

Check O'Reilly. They have a pretty good book on BIND and DNS.

 

[Ovatvvon]

thedaver,

Your insight and advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to post replies. Please understand that I am whole-heartedly planning on learning Linux. Right now I have no DNS servers. I had one down that I was reloading with Linux, and then, of course, the MS Windows 2000 Server I had running for the other one decided to give me the "blue screen of death". This on top of all the costs and licenses, etc. Yes, I am planning on learning Linux...that is, I'm starting now. However, the reason I'm posting my question in this forum is because of just that fact: I have no DNS servers up right now, which means that my development websites are down, which means that companies that hire me for my web development services (note: I'm a sole-proprietor software developer, not an IT person) cannot see samples I've created. So, I posted the question in here hoping someone could assist me in seting up the DNS server, and correctly at that. I'm sure I could find a halfway decent tutorial on the web, but I wanted to make sure it was done right. Once I complete that, then I'm free to continue with learning Linux. I hope this makes sense. As for you being a stickler on this subject, I do understand, and you have an absolutely good and valid point. I just hope you understand why I posted my question.

lgarner, I'll look into that book as I'm learning Linux more. I'm guessing it's not a quick learning book, but more in-depth, which is what I'll want for the future. Right now I need a quick [but accurate / complete] fix for my situation. Thank you for recommending it to me!




-Ovatvvon :-Q

 

[spydyr]

Ovatvvon,

Like thedaver suggested there's just too much information to put into a tek-tips post. Check out the following link. It contains all the information you need to get BIND up and running. Good Luck.

http://www.zytrax.com/books/dns/

 

[thedaver]

Ovatvvon,
I appreciate your predicament and I would like to suggest that you are trying to solve a minor problem by hitting it with a baseball bat.

You should be able to find a scad of primary, secondary and terciary DNS services by using Google and searching on "DNS". UltraDNS, No-IP, and others come to mind. These are fee-based services (generally quite reasonable) and are certainly going to take the pressure off of you to "learn" DNS speak in a matter of days.

Unless you are particularly bright, I would recommend finding a provider of such services. As an added benefit, their diverse networks will provide you with some added redundancy that you wouldn't be able to offer yourself.

HTH,
Dave.

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