Re: [cobalt-users] Secondary DNS Setup

[Jeff Lasman <jblists@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Scott w wrote:

> I am currently running Pri and Sec DNS on my RAQ3. I am looking at moving my
> secondary to a different box. I'm not exactly sure how that will work.

With a lot more redundancy <smile>.

> Do I just setup the DNS records identically on both boxes and then if
> Primary server dies, the secondary just takes over?

That would be one way to do it.  But it would certainly take a lot of
time to update, to add new records, etc., etc.

> Do I need do anything different on the primary box? i.e. SOA record for the
> domain pointing to the secondary box. Adding a "Secondary Name Service for
> Domain" record?

Just how much you need to do depends on what your SOA record looks like
now.  Would you please post one to the list, so we can look at it?

> Sorry if this is a basic question, this stuff is always a little confusing
> and I want to make sure I do it right.

It's very important to get DNS right.

If your SOAs are already right, all you have to do is change the IP#
that your secondary nameserver now points to, to the new box, and create
a new named.conf file with the proper records in it, on the secondary
system; it'll automatically get the domain files from the primary
server.

I highly recommend a good DNS book.  While I used to recommend "DNS and
Bind" from O'Reilly, I now recommend "Linux DNS Server Administration"
from Sybex.

Or of course a good consultant (says Jeff, tooting his own horn <smile>)
to get it right the first time and to give you some examples to follow
<smile, again>.

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