Backup DNS servers

setting up another dns server to serve as a backup

[msykes]

Hi Everyone, I hope this forum is the most appropriate to this topic.

I've got some domains on namecheap's freedns but they went down a few days ago and left us in a state.

So, I decided to set up a backup nameserver on my VPS which is running plesk. What I did was duplicate the records from namecheap into plesk, register the nameservers subdomains with the registrar, and add them to the list of DNS servers after namecheap's.

All seems to be ok, but I think I missed something. on nmaecheap there is NS records for namecheap's nameservers only, and on plesk it's only the private records. Two domains were fine, one chucked a wobbly until I removed the new nameservers from the DNS list on the registrar.

So, question is: Should I add the NS records to both namecheap and plesk so they show each other?

Or should I be making plesk a secondary nameserver (plesk has an option for that), but I worry that namecheap may change it's IPs every so often and plesk only takes an IP, not a domain.

Thanks in advance!

[Webwork]

When I have an issue like this the first place I look for an answer is the help system/forum of my ISP/hosting provider and the second place I turn for an answer is the ticketing/messaging system with the ISP's/webhost's NOC.

In part I take this approach because it's my experience that every webhost tweaks their servers/systems "in special (annoying?) ways" - requiring an insider's knowledge to get things right.

[creeking]

why not just use TWO free DNS providers?

NS1, NS2 are from company #1.

NS3, NS4 are from company #2.

pretty small odds that both companies would be down at the same time.

[Webwork]

Always nice when someone with a better idea shows up to offer assistance. ;) (Thanks creeking.)

[msykes]

Hi, sorry for late reply (never got notification) and thanks for your replies.

What I'm doing is exactly that actually, I have two dns providers, one in namecheap and then my own server.

I have the following as registered DNS servers:
1 - namecheaps
2 - namecheaps
3 - namecheaps
4 - myserver
5 - myserver

But on each provider they have different NS records (namecheap has 5 for it's own server urls, mine has my two server urls). Should I sync these NS records up so they each include each other?