[cobalt-users] using a RAQs for DNS servers

[Gordon Fong <gordon.fong@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I have just joined the list and have already read through the archives on
this subject but also wanted confirmation from people if I am doing the
right thing.

We have just bought our first two racks (and a Qube). We are currently
hosting websites for our customers on Mac but will put new customers onto
RAQ3 units as the numbers build up. We have bought a RAQ2 unit with the sole
purpose of using it as our Primary DNS server and SMTP server. Our current
Mac will temporarily be our secondary DNS server and backup SMTP server.

Because I want to serve DNS entries for the sites on the other RAQ, the
browser interface on the RAQ2 does not let me create DNS entries unless I
create a virtual site locally on the RAQ, and create DNS entries to actually
point to the other RAQ.

This will be unwieldy after a few dozen sites and will create unnecessary
directories, configs etc on the hard disk.

Am I correct in thinking that the best way to do this is to use the use the
RAQ unit purely as a Linux box and use whatever scripts are out there to
automate the process? I know this is probably not supported by Cobalt but
would people who have been using the RAQs for some time discourage me from
doing it i.e. is there too much to go wrong if I did?

I would prefer not to buy a huge PC box and go through the hassle/cost of
rack mounting it when I theoretically get a Cobalt unit to do the same.

Regards

Gordon Fong