I am trying to setup cpanel/whm on a dedicated server. Do I need a separate DNS server. I have tried LayeredTech and cpane/whm forums - no answer. LQ always seems to have the experts.

Thank you,
Jeff

No, you don't require a separate server for DNS. BIND (named) comes along with cPanel installation which includes Apache, FTP and other services.

If you login into the WHM of the server as root, there is a section for setting up the name servers,

http://www.cpanel.net/docs/whm/Initi...rver_Setup.htm

You will have to make sure that the name servers are registered at the domain name registrar. You should be able to find documentation for registering private name servers at your domain name registrar website.

Normally web hosts have both the name servers (ns1/ns2.domain.tld) in the same server. This is a single point of failure and not recommended for production/dedicated clients. For shared hosting to cut costs etc web hosts do take this route.

It's well the cost to buy another server and configure it as a cPanel DNS only server and have ns2.domain.tld configured.

http://www.cpanel.net/products/dnsonly/index.htm

Thank you Digen,

I was able to set up the server using internal name servers. The name servers had to be set up at Godaddy. There is an option to do that at the bottom left hand corner of the domain name page within Godaddy. Since the server itself is not redundant, it really doesn't matter if the name server goes down with the server. The clients would be unable to reach their sites anyway.

I found a hint on the cpanel forum that led me in that direction.

Thanks again,
Jeff

I just thought it would be worth mentioning, cPanel offer a free DNS/nameserver only product that is good if you want to install some redundancy into your system.

Thanks mjh,

I did see their dns product, it is free!

I would need another server, though.

Jeff

Is there someone out there who has a manual in how to set this up.

I have a VPS in other DC, in other country, with cPanel DNSonly installed and now I am wondering have I done it all in a proper way and how to test it?

For example, on the dedicated cPanel server, I have enabled cluster, then added the peer (DNSonly server) and made the DNS role of this dedicated server to Synchronize changes. Then added this dedicated server in the Cluster on the DNSonly (VPS) and made his role Standalone. As I assume if I add more servers in the DNSonly they all need to be standalone? not 100% sure about this bit :-( I assume if i make on the DNSonly all servers in that cluster to Synchronize changes, they will get from each other all dns zones?

Sorry, I am a bit in the blue with this :-)

Now I wonder if this is ok configured, and can I change the ns2 (name server on my dedicated server to point to the main IP of the DNSonly server, the VPS main IP.

What else need to be done?

Any help or feedback is much appreciated.

Thanks