Custom DNS with Vortech ... Go to dedicated box

[Scroller]

I'm a total newbie to this ... will be most thankful if someone can point me in the right direction

I'm currently using the custom DNS server provided by Vortech. Just gotten another unmanaged dedicated Windows 2003 server. I'm hoping to continue to have my client's domain pointing to my dns here e.g. ns2.domain.com but have it resolve to my dedicated box somewhere else. What should I do?

I know I can simply forward the web to the dedicated IP of the dedicated machine, but I have a limited number of IP available for use. What's the most efficient way? Thanks!

[Brangwyn]

Your forward doesnt have to be to a dedicated IP it can be a forward to a shared IP too, so load all your customers up on shared IP's on your new box and save the dedicated IP's for those who really need it (SSL)

[Silverbug]

what you have to do is setup an A Name in your dns for your service domain and point it to the ip of your ded box.

[Scroller]

ok ... thanks!

now trying out Bind and the MS DNS server available in Win2003. Any other good DNS server that's easier to use? There is very little information available for Win2003 DNS server.

[dpyers]

might try
news:microsoft.public.windows.server.dns
and
news:microsoft.public.win2000.dns

[Brangwyn]

2003 DNS (and 2000 for that matter) is a piece of cake becuase it's all point and click. Bind is a port from the *nix version it's probably the most common DNS Server software in use around the world I suspect.

[mfennell]

actually, if your using Windows you don't have to do anything to the dns of that system. Just put the domain name in the host header of IIS. Don't even need to touch dns on the Windows system.

[Brangwyn]

True If hes going to use Vortech DNS for everything, sounds like he's setting up a full hosting service to me, so he will want to setup and manage his own DNS servers eventually most likely.

[Scroller]

yes ... exactly ... I was thinking of getting it setup anyway so that I can have more choices in the future ... Win 2003 DNS Server seems easier ... but I'm still trying to figure out how to test if I even actually got it to work ...

can't believe it's that hard to find step-by-step guides.

[Brangwyn]

It's pretty easy to test, use something like this to query the server

It's probably hard to find step by step guide becuase basucally you first have to really understand DNS well, once you know DNS the tool or server becomes a little irrelevant becuase finding out say how to add an "A" record is pretty simple.

With all things Microsoft, don't foget the "help" link on the start menu either, theres often a wealth of information there that most people tend to overlook.

[Scroller]

ok this is what I did ...

1. I created a DNS server on the dedicated box using Bind. Tested and it resolved nicely.

2. I created a new domain under IIS e.g. newdomain.com and map it to a new directory.

3. newdomain.com is currently using the DNS server @ vortech, I want to keep it here so that email can be managed in hsphere. So I went to the control panel and did a perm forward for the web service to the ip address of the dedicated box.

but now when I type newdomain.com ... it goes to the root of the dedicated server and not the newdomain.com directory ... I know I probably have to add a zone somewhere on the dedicated server? should it be done in Bind or in IIS?

[mfennell]

In IIS

Get into the properties of the site you want to resolve.
Under the website tab... you will see the button "advanced" next to the IP address. Click it
Edit the current entry in the "multiple identites for this web site" section.
Add the url in the "host header value"
click OK
then ok again
then apply and ok

Done.

[Silverbug]

ah is it that easy, you know i tried setting that up on one of our local dev computers but couldnt get it working, no idea why tho.

[Brangwyn]

Yeah basically this has nothing to do with DNS .. what mfennell has descibed to ya is whats known as adding a Host Header to the website. Host Headers (HTTP/1.1) is what servers use to enable multiple sites to share a single IP address.

[mfennell]

yeah, I guess I could have given a little more info. Sorry about that was short on time.