Re: [cobalt-developers] Sub-domain Question (please help)

[Jeff Lasman <jblists@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Michael wrote:

> I know you are very reluctant to give me this information, but I am still
> confused as to what I would need to do.  Maybe you could answer some of my
> questions below:

I'll do my best.  But you need to know straight out that DNS wildcards
are not what you think they are.

> 1.  If I were to enable DNS wildcards on a domain, would the wildcards be
> enabled on all the domains or just the one that I wanted to enable it for?

I've found no documentation anywhere on enabling or disabling DNS
wildcards.  Just implment them exactly the way I've explained it in my
previous post.  I thought I was reasonably clear.

Something tells me you're hoping something is there that isn't.  You
"implement" wildcards on a zone by zone basis, exactly as I pointed out
in my previous post.

> 2.  When DNS wildcards are enabled on a domain then you cannot add
> sub-domains (sub.yourname.com) using the regular cobalt administration,
> right?  (Is this what you were explaining below because I was a little
> confused)

I have no idea if you can add wildcards through the cobalt gui or not. 
If you add them outside of the gui, then the next time you use the gui,
everything you've done outside the gui will completely disappear.

You can learn how to make manual changes that will show up in the gui,
but if you make such changes and do things that are forbidden in the
gui, you won't ever be able to save changes again.

You're talking about seriously breaking the gui here.  If the "wildcard
implmentation" (your term, not mind) I've described in my last post
works, great.  If it doesn't, then you'll have to deal with it, either
by abandoning wildcards (highly recommended), or switching entirely
command line interface (good luck).

> 3.  Shouldn't there be an easy way to redirect all sub-domains of a domain
> name to the corresponding sub-directory?  For example...  test.yourname.com
> forwards to yourname.com/test.  Kind of like a default thing in the DNS
> configurations...  I don't know...

There may very well be a way.  I have never had a need for it, so I've
not done it.  I use a script to make additions to my
/etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf file as needed.

Other people may implement this some other way.  How about some of you
really smart httpd.conf gurus out there... what do you think?

> 4.  What exactly would I need to do to enable wildcards on my raq3 if I
> decide that your answers to questions 1 and 2 are to my liking?

I really think I've already explained it.  Try 'em in the gui.  If they
don't work, try 'em by hand.  Buy and read the book.  Read my previous
post.

It takes ten seconds or less to implement a wildcard inside a given zone
file.  Will it work?  You have to invest some time in understanding what
I'm writing about, and what the DNS and Bind book authors write about.

Michael, there isn't much else to say, short of saying, take a course,
read a book.

If anyone out there thinks my assessment is wrong, please jump in,
correct me, and help Michael.

Thanks.

Jeff
-- 
Jeff Lasman <jblists@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
nobaloney.net
P. O. Box 52672
Riverside, CA  92517
voice: (909) 787-8589  *  fax: (909) 782-0205