When running a DNS server, is it necessary to get your ISP's nameserver's to point to your DNS servers? Or once you register a domain the root server will start to point to either your DNS.

I just want to know if I have to communicate anything to my ISP in order to get my DNS to work on the internet.

If you plan to host your own DNS, when you register your domain name you must tell the registrar What the primary and secondary DNS host server addresses are. If youare hosting ouyr own DNS IP address of your machine.

Until you do that, your domain name registration is most likely pointing to the DNS servers of the registrar you purchased the name from. i.e. network solutions, godaddy, etc...

I prefer to let the registrar host my external DNS since the primary and secondary DNS Servers should be on disparate networks. I host a seperate DNS server for my internal users so they can hit the same servers inthe firewall DMZ using their private IP addresses.

Do you inform your ISP to have their nameserver's point(pointer record) to your DNS server in order to manage your domain?

if you purchased the domain name from your ISP then yes that would be the appropriate action.

you can use a tool like this one http://www.nwtools.com/default.asp?p...inuxformat.com
to search DNS on a domain name the answer will show you what DNS servers respond authoritatively for that name..

for this example ns2.jpci.net and ns0.jpci.net are authoritative for the linuxformat.com domain. when queried they return the information in the Answer Section..



You will need an A record (host record) so the server name can be resolved to IP
You will need a reverse-dns entry for your dns server and hosts. so the IP can be resolved to the host name.
you will need A records for any other hosts on your domain.
possibly some other entries as well

you get the idea