RE: [cobalt-users] RAQ2 - Pointers/CNAME/Email etc..

["Neil J. Kemp" <neil@xxxxxxxxxx>]

>1) Domain Pointer
>When I setup a domain pointer (using my own Cobalt DNS) can I
>set up email forwarding for that domain without actually setting up
>a virtual site for that Domain. If so what are the steps please?

Yes, but it'll involve telnet and being logged in as root. The first part is
easy, in the admin control panel you need to edit the mail services and
"accept mail for this domain" (add the domain to that list) - (The
alternative to this is manually editing /etc/sendmail.cw and stop/starting
sendmail)

Part two is the DNS. You need to set an MX record (mail server) for the
domain you want in the nameserver configuration. (Cobalt GUI?) and point
this to the server you are adding to above.

Part three is a little more complex. Edit /etc/virtusertable and scroll
RIGHT to the bottom and you'll see it says custom changes here. Add the
line:

@domain.com target@xxxxxxxxxxx

domain.com is the domain you want to forward all mail from - targetaddress
is erm the target e-mail address. You WON'T need to put an @www.domain.com
in.

Then finally at the console prompt type:

makemap hash /etc/virtusertable < /etc/virtusertable

>2) CNAME
>I am not sure I quite get this. For example if I want to point two
>domains to the same IP I can do so by setting up two accounts
>and allocating them to the same IP. This does however create two
>distinct web sites (ie directory structures). Am I right in thinking
>that by using a CNAME I would have multiple sites not only sharing
>the same IP address but also the same web space?

If the site is on it's own IP and nothing else is sharing it then it's
really easy. All you need to do is edit the DNS and point the other domain
to the same IP. (an "A" record, not a CNAME). That is all you'll need to do.
You won't need to setup the site in the GUI at all.

>3) MAX number of sites
>I have heard talk of a maximum number of 200 web sites per
>RAQ2? What actually is the limiting factor. For example if I created
>200 virtual sites all with no more than a single page would that
>reach the limit in the same way as 200 medium size web sites. ie
>is there something which restricts the number of virtual host
>records which can be created.

It's not a hardcoded limit on the RaQ2 (apparently), but more of a
recommended limit. However, I believe there is a limit with Linux/Apache
which means you shouldn't have too many sites (open files problem probably).
I've never reached it myself though as on my Intel box I have over 400 very
small sites in my Apache config and it still isn't breaking a sweat. The
only problem with trying this on a RaQ2 using the GUI is that it'll take
AGES for the admin server list pages to load.

>Apologies for such a long winded post.

No problem. I only hope I was of some help!

--Neil