Now strictly a linux question but I thought this a good place to ask:

I'm slightly confused as to how all this Reverse DNS stuff works, and i'd be greatful if someone could help me!

I have a linux box behind my NAT router and I've started to host a few IRC bouncers, eggdrops and such for friends. I know a key feature of an IRC bouncer is to be able to use a vhost to mask the real IP address.

Lets just say I have the domain "cool.com", what do I need to do so i can have "user@this.is.cool.com" or plainly "user@cool.com" as my hostmask? I believe I need to contact my ISP (Eclipse Internet UK) and ask them to create a reverse DNS record and point it to my domain (well I think thats right, someone please correct me if i'm wrong). Also are there any specific settings i need to change for it to work?

I just need some confirmation on what exactly I need to do. Plus remember the box is behind NAT, I hope this doesn't complicate things!

Thanks for any help!

You can only have a PTR record created for you if you have a static IP, and if your ISP allows it. Most consumer ISPs will not create PTR records for their customers (or give out static IPs, for that matter).

If the IRC daemon is using reverse DNS lookups to display hostname information, then you would need to get a PTR record to change that. The PTR record could really point to anything, but your ISP may do some kind of checking to make sure you own the domain.

I do have a static IP and I know a friend on the same ISP who has setup this sucessfully.

Do I actually need to do anything with the domain? Or just register it?

If you register a domain you will enter your ip if im right. So it will be automatically connected to your IP adress (if it doesnt change). So just register a domain and you can give your eggdrops names like stupideggdrop@mydomain.com

mindspin, that is forward DNS. Pyro2k4 is asking about reverse DNS and that can only be setup by your ISP.

Pyro2k4, yes you should register the domain if you plan on having reverse DNS point to it. For best results you should also create a hostname in forward DNS that matches what you want for your reverse DNS entry.

@Pyro,

May I ask, who is your ISP? - Static IPs and a PTR record seems far too good to be true! What's the catch?!

Steve

In the US, Speakeasy.net offers static IPs (and lots of them, depending on your service package... you can also add more for a small monthly fee). Sonic.net also offers static IPs.

I think I can get 8 for free and easily. If I want more I have to proove I need them (like having lots of networked PCs without NAT)