DNS server switch headache

going back and forth at registrar

[smallcompany]

I have few domain names in relation to a single site I run. I 301 all by the books. It happened I had to switch from domain1 to domain2.
Domain names are with company1 and site is at company2.
Easy to do, switch old domain to 301, and also switch new domain to point to DNS servers where I have my site hosted.
It took time, servers around had to be updated, site was showing stupid "This domain name has just been registered." page (I'm thinking, if you can show your damned page, why you cannot point to DNS servers I entered), OK, I waited.
This morning I could see my site no problem, so I started making changes around, wherever I can, in order to get new URL going in the public.
Then suddenly, just a minute ago, my domain2 pointed back to the "This domain name has just been registered." page of the domain hosting company. What the heck? It's internal issue for sure, there is no way it's about DNS servers around the world.

Well, I'm going to move away all of my 300+ domain names pals.

I wouldn't mind if you folks could sticky me about companies that are domain name management friendly, possibly include privacy into name fee.
I'm not in any domain related business, I just register names that I think I could build a site around, and I usually have multiple domain names in relation to one site.

Thanks

[Disco Legend Zeke]

Sometimes a reboot will clear DNS caching, but if it is not a local (your computer) issue, you have little control.

ISP's use widely varying domain name caching times, so even though you still see the old website, users looking at other DNS servers will see the new, and vice versa.

One way to see current listing is to try the WWW version or the non-WWW version of your address... whichever you have NOT used lately.

Using the "server" command in NSLOOKUP allows you to query several non-authoratative DNS servers. I personally use open DNS servers 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220 both for my surfing and NSLOOKUP primary functions.

OPENDNS is free, but they will show a page full of advertising if you type in an unfound domain.

[edited by: Webwork at 12:19 pm (utc) on Sep. 1, 2009]
[edit reason] Thanks for the help but PLEASE no hosting company endorsements, regardless of motive [/edit]

[smallcompany]

I wasn't so much worried about my local DNS server (of my ISP) returning the old IP address.

What made me disappointed and dissatisfied was their DNS server showing old IP address more than a day after the changes were applied, although they claimed 1 hour change which should not be a big deal as all domain settings sit there on their servers.
The way how I found this was simply setting their DNS server in nslookup and querying my domain.

[bwnbwn]

smallcompany if your hosting your sites and using the hosting companies DNS your playing with fire.
I suggest not moving your sites but getting an account and having your DNS set up from another service.

dnsmadeeasy is a good one I am sure there are more.

[smallcompany]

having your DNS set up

I always thought I would need my server and to know how to setup all about DNS. I probably could, but never had the time to bite on it.

I never thought about having a company that solely manages DNS.

Thanks for input, and the comment about playing with fire. To me, most of DNS changes with this provider never looked right.

[bwnbwn]

smallcompany DNS is really pretty easy to do and once ya get the nack of it you will wonder why you never did it before.
I used dnsmadeeasy because it is whom I use our company uses another that I am sure is better but out of my price range.

To me, most of DNS changes with this provider never looked right.

I am sure they were right otherwise your sites would have issues getting indexed and a host of other problems. I bet they just have a their TTL set high.

[smallcompany]

TTL set high

True, I'm sure.

Anyhow, my own DNS sounds really good. I've been evading "run own server" mode for long time now.
DNS would be a great start.

I just looked towards my bookshelf and saw O'Reilly's "DNS and BIND" book that I haven't opened yet, and I had it for at least two or three years - I thought it would be good to go through it.