Re: [cobalt-users] Configuring Secondary DNS...

["Rodolfo J. Paiz" <rpaiz@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

At 6/20/01 02:35 PM -0500, you wrote:
> As my first post, I am sure the nature of this question will set the stage
> in my being the most novice of cobalt users.

Yesterday it was someone else, tomorrow it will be someone else... don't 
sweat it, just keep learning.

> However, I have a problem
> pertaining to setting DNS servers in cobalt raq2. I believe I have properly
> configured the primary DNS. On the other hand, when I attempt to set the
> secondary DNS for the network via Control Panel > DNS > Parameters > Add
> Secondary..., I receive the following message:
>
> *Domain mydomain.com is already defined*

Umm... on the same machine?

Here's the short scoop, in RaQ2-speak which is slightly different from what 
it really should be. But, when in Rome...

The primary and secondary DNS servers should be two separate machines on 
two different IP addresses. The primary is where you enter all the 
individual records for your domain.

In order to avoid having to input everything twice and risking (or rather 
ensuring) that you eventually have different information in each server, 
you do not enter any detailed info into the secondary. You merely tell it 
what domain, and who's the primary server, and it goes and asks the primary 
for all information. It will also update its info on a regular basis so 
it's always up to date.

So if you have just one server, you will set up only your primary. Get your 
ISP, www.granitecanyon.com, or a friend to give you secondary DNS service. 
Note that granitecanyon is just for non-commercial domains.

There are ways to trick this and get around the 
different-IP-addresses-on-different-servers requirement. DO NOT DO THIS. DO 
NOT BE TEMPTED. THIS IS ALWAYS, ALWAYS A BAD IDEA (TM). You should not do 
things in a sloppy way even when they are of low value... it will just 
breed a bad habit and then you'll be sloppy with valuable things too.

Clear? If not, ask again.


--
Rodolfo J. Paiz
rpaiz@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx