Forum Moderators: phranque
You'll need to run a copy of bind on your webserver. Bind is the name server software that serves dns requests like apache serves web requests. Then you need to configure bind so that it answers with the correct answers to any dns queries for the sites you are hosting.
Actually, you need to run two copies of bind on two seperate computers. Preferably the two computers should be as far seperated as possible. There are four ways to get a second copy of bind under your control:
- paid service, I've not found any I like
- you've got a second server somewhere, use that. Not likely but if you do, you're away.
- most common is to find someone else willing to host your second, in exchange for your second. you can set up bind to automatically push data out to to the second computer (and they set their copy of bind up to recieve this push, and push they're changes out to you). Again, I've had little success finding someone willing to swap who'll actually pull through and make sure things are running. But I think this is the most common way.
- I've got a high speed connection at home. I bought a static IP address and actually run my second copy of bind from a small computer in my basement. Bind is low need in terms of bandwidth and processing so you can get away with this. that way I've got both dns servers under my control.
Now, with that all set up and running, you need to edit the domain record for mydomain.com. Somewhere in the control panel will be the facility to register ns.yourdomain.com and point it to bind on your webserver, and register ns2.yourdomain.com and point it to your second copy of bind.
Now you've got ns and ns2 working and under your control. Last step is to change the name servers in your other domains to indicate your new nameservers.
Note - this works, but isn't technically perfect. If people do a reverse lookup, they'll see whoever owns the IP address, not you. You need to have your ISP assign control of the IP address of your nameserver to you to make it 100% transparent. I suggest you not bother with that step.
