Re: [cobalt-developers] dns setup

[Jeff Lasman <jblists@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Jessica wrote:

> Phooey. It works fine. Best I ever used.
> Been using it for years, now, and provide service
> to many outside clients as well.
> Been 100% reliable. Does require reasonable
> working knowledge of DNS/Bind principles.

Glad to disagree with you on this one, though I don't want to get into
any more arguments onlist (or offlist) on it.  The fact is that the RaQ2
gui does NOT let you change the SOA record.  So you can't change minimum
TTL or a bunch of other settings, or have a primary nameserver different
from the main hostname-sitename of the RaQ itself.

But if it works for you, great.

> IMHO most misunderstood part of Sys Admin work, and seen majority of
> otherwise qualified SysAdmin folks fail miserably at this...
> ( Probably because is quite tedious-least fun...)

It's extremely tedious on a RaQ.  It's not tedius for us at all since we
use our own scripts and linked files.  We host DNS for literally
hundreds of domains with no tediousness involved.

>  > A system that promises so
>  > much, but delivers headaches, is QUESTIONABLE, at the least? I have
>  > spent more time and effort maintaining (correcting) the RaQ's errors
>  > than it takes to maintain the (few) troublesome issues with my NT
>  > servers.
> 
> Disagree completely. Haven't met a CPU and OS yet that doesn't present
> some challenge.

Do you undrstand quoting?  That's NOT my quote.  It's the guy I'm
responding to.  Pulling from multiple emails to attribute something to
me I didn't say?  Can we say slander <smile>?

> However, if used for purpose intended out of the box, Cobalt Raq works
> supremely well.

I've been saying this for a long time; read my posts.

> Have enjoyed greatest success out of all sytems ever used
> ( 30 years- aargh...)

Good.  Sounds like you're Cobalt's target market <smile>.

> Now, if you want to improvise, you need to master the instrument.
> do not often see that represented here.
> ( How do you use "Vi"....sheesh!! how often do we see that??!!)

May I respectfully point out that this is the "cobalt-developers" list;
it's NOT for clueless newbies; the "cobalt-users" list is a more
suitable place for them.  This list is specifically for people working
on developing products to run on the Cobalt appliances.

> All I see is a demand for a MORE user-friendly device from Cobalt.
> if  "user-friendly" = "Idiot-Proof"
> Then the great Guru Murphy's "idiot" corollary applies:
> " Build something that even an idiot can use, and only an idiot will use it!"

Wrong list for that kind of stuff anyway.

> Again, master the technique/technology, and frankly, any box will do !!!!
> Give it a rest!

Give what a rest?  I'm not sure I understand you.  I have NOT been
arguing about the RaQ's inabilities.  I've pointed out some of them, but
I've never made any of the demands or arguments you seem to be
attributing to me.  I hope you're just making a mistake or having a bad
day or something; I don't see having done anything to deserve such
outright anger.

> note: I am not a 'Cobalt Cheerleader"
>          I am "Solution Provider" and only will consult likewise.
>          Cobalt is still most effective solution for a full duty web server
>           that I will recommend, at this time.

I'm glad Cobalt works for you.  Frankly it works very well for me, as a
lot of the people at Cobalt will even tell you.  In fact I run a Cobalt
consultancy specifically to help people get around problems and issues
that do occur running Cobalt equipment.  It's my line of work.

>  >At the moment I'm trying to install W2K
>  >Advanced Server.  I'm sure it's worth the money, if I can ever figure it
>  >out <wry grin, again>.
> 
> Thanks for making my point.

We probably agree on almost everything except hating me <smile>.

>   It will work, but you need skill and experience - my point regarding Cobalt.
> BTW, it's not worth the money.

Ah, but if you're in Microsoft's target market as I am, they'll send you
one for free.  In fact they've already sent me one for free, and on
November 1st are scheduled to send me another one for free.  I'm taking
on the challenge.  I'm talking full ISP licenses here.

> Installed it to end up disabling most of
> it's features.

I've had to disable a lot as well.

> Did not have to or will ever want to disable ANY of the Cobalt features.

Remind me to tell you how dangerous telnet is some day <smile>.  Even if
you only use it yourself.

> Finally, do y'all understand this is a Red Hat Linux OS platform,
> considered the most effective and Top rated Linux distrubution available
> by every source I've seen???????????

ROTFL !!!

Red Hat Linux is good, and I use it on a lot of servers.  But
Top-Rated?  By consumer publications I'd bet.  Certainly NOT by Unix
users.

I use FreeBSD, I use BSDi (a commecial Unix), I use Red Hat Linux, I use
Slackware Linux, I use Cobalt RaQs, I use NT (only one left), and I'll
use Win2K Advanced Server when I can get it figured out.  (Yes, I've
already invested in the W2K Server Resource Kit; it requires figuring
out as well, but I DO believe in paying the price for knowledge and
support.)  In the past I've used Slackware's release of Linux Kernel
v0.99, and I've used SCO Xenix and later SCO Unix.  Even Microsoft
Xenix.  And oh, I was the software architect for Lobo's version of CP/M
Plus for the Z-80.  I'm a tool user.  Your point?

> It's just accomodating an HTTPD GUI front end.....
> What's the problem with that?

Since the gui has limitations (I've already mentioned some of them),
what I'd really like is for it to stay out of the way of changes I make,
and let me make the changes I want in the background.  I'd also like
them to not limit me (how about the Cobalt RaQ user who wants to use it
to host domains with "--" in the name?  Turns out he can't unless he
pays Cobalt hundreds of dollars for custom changes <frown>).

But I agree, those are small complaints.  Unless you're the guy who
bought the RaQ and just found out you can't use it.

> C'mon guys, sniveling is unbecoming industry professionals.
> Let's leave that perogative to our clients.
> Enjoy. Life is too short....

Let's get the record straight, I was NOT sniveling about the RaQ.  Not
ever.  I was snivelling about DNS <smile>.

> Jessica McDonald Ph.D.

You beat me there.

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