cannot find server message

visitors need to keep refreshing the page

[marigon]

I'm not sure where to put this topic, I think it is actually a DNS problem, but I cannot find DNS forum, so I apologize if it's in the wrong place.

I am on unmanaged dedicated server, everything was running smoothly for 3 years, until recently the hard drive crashed and my webhost had to put a new HD and reload OS.

Since then, all my sites have a problem. The visitors (including myself) first see "Cannot find server" message, and need to hit reload browser button 2-3 times, only than the pages come up. And sometimes, on certain providers, never come up.

I know it's not browser related, as it's the same in 3 browsers, and it only started after OS reload and only happens on my sites. I know it's something in DNS settings of server, but have no idea where exactly to look and what to change, I'm afraid to mess with DNS.

Maybe somebody can help and point me into the right direction? I use WHM panel.

[marigon]

Thanks for moving, sorry about that, was not sure where to put it.
Btw, I am on CentOS 5, Apache webserver.

[lucy24]

If the problem started after your host did something, I'd start by going to the host and kicking and screaming. It may end up being your problem-- but it could also be a "Oops, we forgot to turn the frabzoodle on again after rebooting the gimblecrust".

[phranque]

welcome to WebmasterWorld, marigon!

is your web host also your DNS provider?

have you tried an nslookup when you get this error?
have you tried one of the online dns settings check tools?

[marigon]

lucy24, thanks for your reply, but it's unmanaged server, so I am supposed to fix stuff myself.

phranque, yes, my webhost also host DNS servers.

these are the errors that dns test found:

1) your nameservers do not have A records.
2) some of your nameservers did not respond.
3) some nameservers returned by the parent nameserver are not returned by your nameservers.
4) Some of your nameservers did not respond authoritatively for your domain.

While I do understand that I probably need to add A record, but I don't know how to fix the rest of the errors. All my sites use the same nameservers they've been using for years, not sure what happened...

[marigon]

and another test says:

A name server listed at the parent, but not at the child, was found. This is most likely an administrative error. You should update the parent to match the name servers at the child as soon as possible.

How do I fix that?

[phranque]

sounds like the zone transfer mechanism isn't occurring properly.

perhaps you should consider moving your DNS to a more reliable service.

[marigon]

After I added A record, it seems all is working fine today, and it also somehow fixed other errors in DNS test, maybe the problem was indeed in A record missing. Fingers crossed, it stays that way.

But thanks for your time and replies.