Re: [cobalt-developers] Sendmail on a RAQ3

[Jeff Lasman <jblists@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Okay, I've got your answer... below, inline.

Ed Wrenbeck wrote:

> *****************************************
> Authoritative answers can be found from:
> (root)  nameserver = A.ROOT-SERVERS.NET
> (root)  nameserver = B.ROOT-SERVERS.NET
> (root)  nameserver = C.ROOT-SERVERS.NET
> (root)  nameserver = D.ROOT-SERVERS.NET
> (root)  nameserver = E.ROOT-SERVERS.NET
> (root)  nameserver = F.ROOT-SERVERS.NET
> (root)  nameserver = G.ROOT-SERVERS.NET
> (root)  nameserver = H.ROOT-SERVERS.NET
> (root)  nameserver = I.ROOT-SERVERS.NET
> (root)  nameserver = J.ROOT-SERVERS.NET
> (root)  nameserver = K.ROOT-SERVERS.NET
> (root)  nameserver = L.ROOT-SERVERS.NET
> (root)  nameserver = M.ROOT-SERVERS.NET
> *** Can't find server name for address 216.21.234.76:
> No information
> Server:  dns12.register.com
> Address:  209.67.50.234
> 
> *** dns12.register.com can't find www.cobalt.com:

This is the first clue.

> I do not have a file titled resolve.conf. I have a
> file titled resolv.conf. Is this a typo on your part,
> or did I manage to rename the file at some point?

It was a typo on Matthew's part.  The correct file is indeed
/etc/resolv.conf.

> The contents of that file are as follow:
> *****************************************
> search wrenbeck.com
> nameserver 216.21.234.76
> nameserver 209.67.50.234
> *****************************************

The two nameservers listed here (by IP#) are the step toward the second
clue and resolution, and now I've got your domain name so I can do some
tests...

> I looked up the 216.21.234.76 ip and it does indeed
> point at dns11.register.com, which if it is not the
> desired behavior, it is at least the one I intended.

It may be what you intend, but it doesn't work and won't work.

The two servers listed, 216.21.234.76 (ns11.register.com) and
209.67.50.234 (ns12.register.com) are NOT recursive servers.  That means
they'll only resolve names for which they host DNS; they're set to NOT
do lookups for any other domains.

Why?  My guess would be they don't want people using their server
cycles, their server memory, and their data connections, none of which
are cheap, to do lookups for any sites but those for which they host
DNS.

You need to either use your ISP's DNS servers (since they give you
static IP they probably also gave you the addresses of two nameservers
you can use; those are the IP#s you need to enter into the gui, which
will put them into /etc/resolv.conf), or one you run on your own RaQ
(easy enough to do, just check "DNS service" (or whatever it's called;
I'm not looking right now it's almost 1 am here) and "save changes" in
the RaQ gui, then use your RaQ's static IP# (or 127.0.0.1) as your
primary DNS address and leave the secondary blank.

Then these problems should go away.

As to why this all happened the same time you lost power, I have NO
idea; it's unlikely that your system magically rewrote /etc/resolv.conf
when your machine rebooted, and besides, you've also said in your
response to Matthew that the IP# in /etc/resolv.conf (at least the first
one, which is always checked first) IS the one you intended.

But it's also unlikely that register.com changed these two servers from
recursive to non recursive nameservers just at the time you had your
power problem.

So I don't know why it worked earlier, or even if it could have.  But
I'd bet when you take either of my solutions you'll find it all starts
working again.

Now that I've done my best to help you may I point out that the kind of
top-posting you do, quoting the entire reply at the bottom, angers a lot
of people, who will refuse to help you on not only cobalt lists but on
many other lists as well, for just this reason.  Please learn how to
prune and to quote judiciously.  And if I may be so bold, please learn
how to learn from people who've done it longer than you have, and who
have already learned, sometimes the very hard way, as well.

Think of it this way.  If you were a first timer in prison, and not on a
Cobalt list, and responded the way you did to me, an old timer in the
same prison (er, list), you might have been killed for your mistake. 
We're a lot nicer than that here, but we still have our feelings,
opinions, and prejudices.

Thanks.

Jeff
-- 
Jeff Lasman <jblists@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Linux and Cobalt/Sun/RaQ Consulting
nobaloney.net
P. O. Box 52672, Riverside, CA  92517
voice: (909) 778-9980  *  fax: (702) 548-9484