How to setup a DNS server?

Discussion in 'Apache' started by irongloves, Jan 18, 2008.

  1. #1
    Hello folks,

    I need some help.

    I would like to set up a DNS server for my own ccTLD (.de) domains in order to handle my domains by myself (i dont want to register them with another registration service but i want to become one by myself.

    We are talking about 4,000 domains and If i become registrar in my country I will save some money.

    How should I start this process?
    What kind of server should i take?
    Which OS?
    What software loaded on it?

    I know this sounds like stupid questions for you but im quite new to this "technical side"

    Thanks a lot
    Irongloves
     
    irongloves, Jan 18, 2008 IP
  2. Xonium

    Xonium Peon

    Messages:
    33
    Likes Received:
    1
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #2
    Xonium, Jan 18, 2008 IP
  3. wisdomtool

    wisdomtool Moderator Staff

    Messages:
    15,826
    Likes Received:
    1,367
    Best Answers:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    455
    #3
    Hi

    How should I start this process?
    Assume you are using Linux start named or if IIS Start Services DNS

    What kind of server should i take?
    Just a very low end server, even a Celeron can do, DNS does not take a lot of processing or memory

    Which OS?
    Linux would be preferred

    What software loaded on it?
    Use Bind and maybe install Webmin to control the DNS, Webmin is free and configures the DNS quite well through the browser
     
    wisdomtool, Jan 18, 2008 IP
  4. irongloves

    irongloves Active Member

    Messages:
    147
    Likes Received:
    5
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    60
    #4
    Hello wisdomtoold.

    Thanks for the tips.

    I would like to ask you.

    Do you know any dedicated offer that will suit my needs? Any experience with some hosting companies?

    I've seen some dedicated offers around.

    SuperbHosting offers these http://www.superbhosting.net/dedicatedservers/clearanceservers/services/solo.php

    What about ThePlanet? Are they good?
    And RackSpace? or FastServers.net?

    Thanks
    Irongloves
     
    irongloves, Jan 19, 2008 IP
  5. wisdomtool

    wisdomtool Moderator Staff

    Messages:
    15,826
    Likes Received:
    1,367
    Best Answers:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    455
    #5
    The planet and rackspace would be good, try to get the lowest config, DNS needs really the most basic.

     
    wisdomtool, Jan 19, 2008 IP
  6. shallowink

    shallowink Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    1,218
    Likes Received:
    64
    Best Answers:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    150
    #6
    Would need servers in different locations too. At the least on different subnets. I saw on webhostingtalk one of the vendors offering a celeron 500mhz, DNS was one of the things he said it would be perfect for, especially at the price (like $20) but it's US based.
     
    shallowink, Jan 19, 2008 IP
  7. wisdomtool

    wisdomtool Moderator Staff

    Messages:
    15,826
    Likes Received:
    1,367
    Best Answers:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    455
    #7
    Celeron 500 Mhz shd be more than enough but if they come with Directadmin for free that would even be easier the setup using Directadmin for DNS would be a breeze. Two different DNS in different locations is the best though not really needed if cost matters.
     
    wisdomtool, Jan 19, 2008 IP
  8. irongloves

    irongloves Active Member

    Messages:
    147
    Likes Received:
    5
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    60
    #8
    I dont know if ThePlanet offers DirectAdmin. Will it be possible to add it by myself?
     
    irongloves, Jan 22, 2008 IP
  9. wisdomtool

    wisdomtool Moderator Staff

    Messages:
    15,826
    Likes Received:
    1,367
    Best Answers:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    455
    #9
    You can rent or purchase from Directadmin yourself, shouldn't be an issue.

     
    wisdomtool, Jan 22, 2008 IP
  10. irongloves

    irongloves Active Member

    Messages:
    147
    Likes Received:
    5
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    60
    #10
    OK,

    Wisdomtool, you are really an blessing for all of us :) thank you

    Do you think this conf will suit a DNS need (It is the lowest priced server from theplanet)?
    Processor: Intel Celeron 2.0GHz+
    HDD: 80GB Hard Drive
    RAM: 512 MB RAM
    DB: MySQL
    5 IP Addresses
    750 GB Bandwidth
    10 Mbps Uplink (is it better if i take a 100mbps for $10/month??? they offer such upgrade)

    Now the point is which OS and which control panel?
    OS: CentOS Enterprise Linux, Version 4
    OS: Centos Enterprise Linux, Version 5
    OS: Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Version 4
    OS: Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Version 5
    OS: FreeBSD 6.2
    OS: Windows Server 2003 Standard - 32 bit
    OS: Windows Server 2003 R2 Standard - 32 bit

    Control Panel: cPanel/WHM with Fantastico
    Control Panel: Plesk 8.0 with PowerPack for Linux (Unlimited Domains)
    Control Panel: Plesk 8.1 with PowerPack for Linux (Unlimited Domains)
    Control Panel: Plesk 8.2 with PowerPack for Linux (Unlimited Domains)
    Control Panel: Ensim Pro X for Linux 10.3 - Unlimited Domains
    Control Panel: Plesk 8.1 with PowerPack for Windows (Unlimited Domains)
    Control Panel: Plesk 8.2 with PowerPack for Windows (Unlimited Domains)
    Control Panel: Ensim Pro X for Windows 10.3 - Unlimited Domains
    Control Panel: Helm 3.0
    Control Panel: Helm 4.0

    Or i can go only with DirectAdmin????
     
    irongloves, Jan 22, 2008 IP
  11. wisdomtool

    wisdomtool Moderator Staff

    Messages:
    15,826
    Likes Received:
    1,367
    Best Answers:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    455
    #11
    Machine is powerful enough, try to get them to give you another hard disk then do a software raid as hard disk is the most likely to be spoilt part of the server. The rest are overkill.

    My take
    OS: Centos Enterprise Linux, Version 5

    Control Panel: cPanel/WHM with Fantastico
    (This is actually as great or even more than Directadmin)


     
    wisdomtool, Jan 22, 2008 IP
  12. irongloves

    irongloves Active Member

    Messages:
    147
    Likes Received:
    5
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    60
    #12
    Yes,

    They do offer an option for a secondary hard disk on the same machine (which one?):
    HDD: 250GB Hard Drive
    HDD: 500GB Hard Drive
    HDD: 750GB Hard Drive
    HDD: 80GB Hard Drive

    Should I ask them specifically to do a software raid?

    Thanks
    Irongloves
     
    irongloves, Jan 22, 2008 IP
  13. wisdomtool

    wisdomtool Moderator Staff

    Messages:
    15,826
    Likes Received:
    1,367
    Best Answers:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    455
    #13
    I would recommend them setting up as a software raid.

     
    wisdomtool, Jan 22, 2008 IP
  14. irongloves

    irongloves Active Member

    Messages:
    147
    Likes Received:
    5
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    60
    #14
    80GB right?
     
    irongloves, Jan 22, 2008 IP
  15. wisdomtool

    wisdomtool Moderator Staff

    Messages:
    15,826
    Likes Received:
    1,367
    Best Answers:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    455
    #15
    Yeap raid 1 has to be of the same size, why not ask them for a 250 GB x 2 software raid 1 for no extra charges :) Hard disks are cheap nowadays.

     
    wisdomtool, Jan 22, 2008 IP
  16. irongloves

    irongloves Active Member

    Messages:
    147
    Likes Received:
    5
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    60
    #16
    I dont think they are so willing to do that.

    I already asked for help for DNS but they not answered :-(
     
    irongloves, Jan 22, 2008 IP
  17. wisdomtool

    wisdomtool Moderator Staff

    Messages:
    15,826
    Likes Received:
    1,367
    Best Answers:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    455
    #17
    Actually with Cpanel, you won't need much help for DNS anyway. It is a good control panel without the steep learning curves of some.

     
    wisdomtool, Jan 22, 2008 IP
  18. irongloves

    irongloves Active Member

    Messages:
    147
    Likes Received:
    5
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    60
    #18
    I just contacted them on live help and they told me: "we can offer you a Hardware RAID card that is fully managed by our support team. I can give you a free control panel and setup though"
     
    irongloves, Jan 22, 2008 IP
  19. boltok

    boltok Active Member

    Messages:
    257
    Likes Received:
    8
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    78
    #19
    Sorry to jump in so late, but DNS is something I love to work with (I've done lots of cool scalability stuff using BIND).

    Since your ccTLD is .de, I assume that all, or at least most, of the domains will be targeting the German market. I just got a dedi server in Germany to handle the European and Asian traffic to my sites, so you might want to use something similar. It would really cut-down the time it takes to resolve DNS queries.

    Second, since you're planning to be a registrar, the servers better be reliable. The power doesn't matter much, but you should have lots of redundancy. I see that you're already considering RAID and that is essential. Also try to get 2x network interfaces, multiple IP addresses and dual-CPU if you can.

    Though disk usage would be minimal, remember that you may be dealing with lots of simultaneous network connections. Make sure to tweak the system settings for this (open files limit, number of available ports, network timeouts etc.).
     
    boltok, Jan 23, 2008 IP