Hi all

Do i need to configure my DNS for the GATEWAY server to work

no, DNS servers should be provided by your ISP.

You need DNS for working with hostnames, for example :
"ping linuxquestions.org"
64 bytes from linuxquestions.org (64.179.4.146): icmp_seq=1 ttl=47

You need a gateway for reaching a specific point in a network, for example :
"ping 64.179.4.146"
64 bytes from 64.179.4.146: icmp_seq=1 ttl=47 time=117 ms

If you don't have DNS, you can still reach that specific point on a network, by using it's IP-adress and not it's hostname.

If you're gateway is not functioning properly, there is no DNS resolving possible, also network packets don't arrive at that specific point on a network.

If you are just wanting to get access to a dns service then edit /etc/resolv.conf file and enter:

namedserver xx.xx.xx.xx

If you are wanting to provide a caching dns server or full dns services locally then your gateway will provide a way for your server to get to root hints.

again NO, you do not need DNS for a gateway to work. As a matter of fact, the gateway itself doesnt need to know any DNS information if you wanna be technical about it.

thanks for all that guys