The best way of setting up a DNS
 

I am working on my first self-managed VPS account (ovh.com VPS SSD2), and I am wondering about what would be the best way of setting up the DNS.

1) I know that I can point to my IP at the domain registrar.

2) I can also handle it by myself on the server.

Would it make sense to work on #2, or just stick to #1 and move on?

It depends on how many DNS records you want to make and how often you think you'll be changing them.

Here we manage some 400 domains so have full fledged BIND DNS servers for all the various zones and records. If you only intend to have one zone with just a few records it certainly is simpler to add your records to the Registrar's site or use one of the free DNS providers. We've acquired many smaller companies over the years and most of them were quite happy letting the Registrar handle the DNS.

Just make sure YOU are the "Registrant". Many companies use web hosting providers that will create the web page and host it and will also "register" "for you" but often enough these companies will take the view that THEY own the domain so if you try to leave them for another provider they hold your domain hostage. So long as you are the "Registrant" shown by whois and have the login credentials at the "Registrar" you should be OK. (FYI: Many of these hosting companies are not actually "Registrars" but rather resellers for the "Registrars". The real "Registrar" won't talk to you because they take the position you should deal with the reseller that did the initial registration. Not quite as bad a situation but it can complicate things if you move domains later.)