This is complicated. I just started reading the bind9 administrator reference manual. I don't just want to plug stuff in; I want to understand what it is I'm doing. I also just realized that I'm going to need dynamic DNS... more fun and games. Once I have all this hot and running I promise to write a tutorial that will break all this down into simple English. It may take me awhile.

Dynamic DNS is easy. Just turn a flag on in the configuration file and it will update your zone files via DHCP.

Regards,

Alunduil

Thanks for that; you probably just saved me a couple of hours worth of google searching.

I thought I knew enough about Linux to build my own server. I'm starting to think I bit off more than I can chew.

It's always a challenge to administer Linux, but a very rewarding one. Once you've been doing this for a while you'll just start knowing the answers to problems as they come up. Don't give up on it.

Regards,

Alunduil

Have to agree, and it gives such a well rounded appreciation of 'the whole' ''thing'' that is 'IT'.

Okay, I'm cleaning out and re-doing my DNS setup now that I have a better idea of what I'm doing and have a couple of general questions.

1) I'm thinking I should get my domain registered before I perform the configuration. It's my understanding that the registrar is probably going to want to know the IP address of my nameserver. Trouble is, the server is in private address space behind a router that receives DHCP from my ISP. I realize that this is what DDNS is for, but how do I set that up with the registrar?

2) I have an extra box I'm going to build a Linux router on (trying out Gentoo along the way) to replace my $30 walmart linksys. It's my intention to build this with a firewall and make it the DHCP server as well. Would it make sense as well to set it up as the primary DNS and make the other box the slave? Once again, does having a DNS server in private address space present any issues?

First, most registrars will want to register two DNS servers a primary and a slave. If you need someone to slave (pun not intended) for you let me know and I'll be willing to do that. If you have DDNS pointing to the box itself; then the glue records the registrar puts in should be CNAME records instead of A records (will check the BIND book later if need be).

Regards,

Alunduil

I have sufficient boxes to have both a master and a slave, but I'm not sure how it works with private address space. I'm hoping to avoid having to pay my ISP for fixed addresses (especially two of them!). I also want to run both LAN and internet services and am trying to sort out how to divide things up amongst my available machines. I hope these questions don't sound too ignorant but I'm struggling a bit with some of this stuff. I'm very good with Cisco routers and switches but a complete neophyte when it comes to servers.

As far as picking what services go where. That's just how you decide to split things up and something that can change as you get more experience running your domain. Don't fret it and see if the DDNS solution will get you a complete domain name.

Regards,

Alunduil