Utilizing DNS
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Contents |
How DNS operates / basic record management
DNS stands for Domain Name Service. It is the system in which a domain name is converted into an IP address (in most cases). It all starts when you purchase a domain through a registrar, (Ex: godaddy.com).
As for the remainer of this article, we'll call your domain "MYDOMAIN.COM".
The primary role of a name-server is to handle requests, it accepts domain queries and returns a 'record'. There are 2 most commonly used 'records', they are:
- (A) Record - This determines that IP Address of a domain, as an (Ex: When you enter a domain into your browser (Ex: Internet Explorer), your computer contacts a name-server, in which that name-server replied with an IP address of the domain you are trying to reach. Then your browser connects to that IP address.)
- (MX) Record - This determines which e-mail server handles e-mail for this domain. (Ex: You are sending an e-mail to support@limestonenetworks.com, the @limestonenetworks.com shows which domain the user support is at. The e-mail client will connect to your name-server and retrieve the 'MX' record, which is the Limestone Networks' e-mail server.)
Summary
1.) DNS stands for Domain Name Service.
2.) The domain registrar determines which name-server handles request for a particular domain.
3.) The basic operation of DNS is for the name-server to return information about a domain.
4.) There are 2 most commonly used records.
Using Limestone's name-server(s)
We provide 3 managed redundant name-servers for your convenience, If you don't want the trouble of creating your own name-servers (eg: ns1.MYDOMAIN.com), you can use the DNS Panel located under the Rockware Control Panel https://rw.limestonenetworks.com/dns/
Before editing domain DNS information under the control panel, you must change your domain registrar's name-servers for your domain to:
Nameservers
- ns1.limestonenetworks.com
- ns2.limestonenetworks.com
- ns3.limestonenetworks.com
After setting these as your 'name-servers' under your registrar, please allow between 24 - 48 hours for the name-server records to fully propagate.
Now you can continue modifying domain records via the Rockware Control Panel.
Changes made under the control panel are not immediate, please allow a few minutes for the records to update.
Summary
1.) Set domain registrar's name-server records to Limestone's nameservers
2.) Wait 24 - 48 hours for the changes to take place.
3.) Modify domain information under the Rockware Control Panel.
4.) Allow time for changes to take effect.
Using your own name-server(s)
In order to setup your own name-servers, such as:
- ns1.MYDOMAIN.com
- ns2.MYDOMAIN.com, etc
You'll need to do the following:
- Setup DNS service on your server.
- This can be a multitude of services, and the operating system can be nearly anything.. Linux, Windows, or Unix. Here are a few various programs for *nix based operating systems:
- BIND
- DJBDNS
- This can be a multitude of services, and the operating system can be nearly anything.. Linux, Windows, or Unix. Here are a few various programs for *nix based operating systems:
- Set your domain registrar's name-servers to your nameservers and allow enough time to propogate:
- ns1.MYDOMAIN.com
- ns2.MYDOMAIN.com
- Modify your system records with domain records and allow enough time to take effect.
NOTICE: This software is suggested, any use of this software is up to you and you only.
