Help Teachers with DNS

[zune318]

[joe39233]

Some info http://computer.howstuffworks.com/dns.htm

[zune318]

[joe39233]

What OS are you using to host these companies? Windows NT? Windows 2000 Server? Linux? Unix? The easiest way to have all of your accounts become easily managed is to add a control panel system on the OS. Something like www.cpanel.net is very good for people new to the internet. Also who are you hosted with? If you have a reseller account with them, then they should offer full support to get you started and provide you with some form of control to create/edit accounts.

[joe39233]

You could try this online book for more info, one of the preeminent books on the topic:

http://safari.oreilly.com/JVXSL.asp?...o=1&page=3

[joe39233]

Could you satisfy my curiosity and explain why you named yourself after the ancient Athenian silver mines of Laurion?

[zune318]

Originally posted by Laurion3
Our problem is that we just don't understand Domain Name Servers and Service. Is there any kind soul here, who would generously explain how it all works in detail?I can only try.


1. What is the "thing" about where the domain name lives..that is....why are people transferring domain names....we see from Internet research that some companies that sell names say that you point from them, but then you get a name server from your host. I can't even ask the question, as I don't know what I am talking about. What exactly is a domain name server? Does everyone get a little black box that houses your name? What ever is this all about and how does it all work?Your name 'lives' at a registrar. It's a company, registered with the governing body (ICANN), that is responsible for keeping track of who 'owns' what name, and where requests for it should go. A domain name server is just a regular server that has specialized software that responds to requests for canonical names (www.domain.com), and translates them into numerical addresses (IP's). The registrar keeps a master list of all the names it controls, and synchronizes that list with various other similar servers on the net.

2. We understand that to "cloak" the name of the reseller provider that you must have your own name server as we see that that you get a dsn1 and dns2 with your reseller account, but how does this fit into the picture and how does it relate to the purchase/pointing/use of the name? We do know that your two name servers should be on two different whatevers in the event one fails.The nameservers you get with the reseller account only pertain to the server they live on (and it's doubtful they will be on 2 different servers). You would need to go to the registrar where you buy your name and add the nameserver IP's the reseller gives you. Ususally there is a link somewhere at the registrar to 'create nameservers based on this domain' or something similar. Just follow the instructions...
Once this record propagates (spreads), requests for domains using your nameservers will get forwarded to the server that has the DNS set up for your reseller account. From there it sends the user to the actual site/files for the web site.

3. We see that there are anonymous servers or something like that....what is this all about?Not sure what you're referring to here.

4. While cost is a big consideration, what is the most efficient, and cost effective way to simplify this process not only for us, but for the businesses that have agreed to support this project, as none of them are Internet savvy either? Is it best to purchase your name from a name company, or to get your name from your host....although we see that you must bring your name to some of the hosts. How does this all work?You should buy the name yourself (godaddy.com or 000domains are pretty decent). Once you buy the name, you set up the reseller account, they give you the IP's for your nameservers, and you set them up at the registrar as explained above. For your clients, once you're set up, they use your nameservers. Since you've set them up already at the registrar (and allowed a few days for this info to spread), all they do is change their domain registration to use your nameservers.

Would someone please, please, help us to understand this?
I don't know if it's helped, but I tried. PM me if you need anything clarified. If I got any of it wrong here, rest assured someone will point it out..

[joe39233]

Allow me to add-on to the excellent reply by bear and see if together, our two posts can answer most of your questions.

1. By definition, a Registrar is where one 'registers' a Domain Name. Same as one would register their House, Boat, Car, etc. with their local government office -- for that type of thing. You own 'it' and registration is verification of that fact. People change Registrars and therefore have to transfer the registration info. Same as when one moves to a new provence or state, you have to registrar what you own with the applicable government for where one lives. On the Internet though, one changes Registrar's because of a perceived better bang for their buck or better service.

The second part of Domain Name Registration is the pointing or location, of where the Domain Name can be found. What's the second question asked when you Registrar something: What is your address? A Domain Name needs an address and it is typically: ns1.domain.com (primary location) and ns2.domain.com (secondary or backup location). These are referred to as Nameservers (ns).

This way, when someone types your Domain Name into their Browser, a command is sent to locate the address for your Domain Name so the Browser can 'go there'. If everything works the way it should, the Server where your Web files are stored will show (usually) your index page.


2. Have you ever gone to a Retail store to buy something, felt the price was too high and decided to go to a Wholesaler instead? That is the situation some Resellers feel they are in. Some feel, and sometimes rightly so, if their Client(s) or potential Client(s) find out who they (the Reseller) are getting 'their' Hosting services from, the Reseller will be bypassed in hopes of getting a better price.

Most Reseller accounts are provided with their own Nameservers: ns1.resellerdomain.com & ns2.resellerdomain.com, and are usually referred to as "Personalized or Custom" Nameservers. This way, if a Reseller has a Client and someone does a WHOIS lookup (http://www.whois.sc/) on 'clientdomain.com', they will see the Nameservers: ns1.resellerdomain.com & ns2.resellerdomain.com. It will not show who is doing or providing, the Hosting for the Reseller.

This is a normal way of doing business as the Reseller can be considered Retail and most people are OK with shopping/paying Retail. If they don't like the; price, features, service, etc., provided by a Reseller they will simply go to another Reseller and pay Retail. We do this all the time in our day-to-day business/shopping and it is no different with Web Hosting.

For a lot of detailed reasons, although ns1 & ns2 can or should, be on two different Servers in two different physical locations, 99.9% of the time that is not the way it is. Don't worry about that, because ns1 (primary) will, or should, seldom go down or be un-reachable. If it does on a very regular basis, then it's time to look for new Hoster in most cases.


3. Anonymous Nameservers refer to, when a WHOIS lookup is done, it does not show the Reseller Nameserver information nor the Nameserver information of the person/company running the Server. This is just an alternative to what is mentioned above and not usually the choice of preference -- by the Reseller or the person/company running the Server. There are some, like myself, who do feel this is not the way to business. But I digress.


4. The Registrars mentioned by bear are good and I will add: http://enom.com/ as well. First you should registrar you Domain Name. Then you get a Hosting account -- presuming it will be a Reseller account, make sure to ask in your initial eMails to potential Hosters, if Personalized Nameservers are provided and if so, are they extra or included in the price.

Then you get your Reseller account setup and create your Client accounts. This is also where the agreements you have with Businesses would be setup as well, but I'm not sure what that would entail. This is a whole 'nother ball of wax and you should make sure your Hoster is Support friendly, because you are going to be asking a lot of questions.


Although I cannot help you with the Java program you mentioned, I would advise that you go with Linux for your Hosting, not Windows. There are many reasons for this recommendation, but I've taken up enough space already.