[PLUG] Using a new domain name

[borodimer]

Howdy,

>   I guess it's time for me to finally set up tinydns here, and I've started
> reading the docs before doing anything. In the meantime, I have a couple of
> questions I hope you folks will either answer for me or you will provide me
> with pointers to reading material with the answers.

I don't want to start a flame war about DNS server preference, but I think you
made a good choice with tinydns.

>   What is the procedure for doing this? Does the domain registrar need to do
> anything? After I get the name server running properly here I'll also want
> to move the business domain name to here from my ISP, but I suppose that I
> ask them to change their record at that time.

The first step is to get yourself a couple of valid name servers.  I say valid
because name servers for a domain, say example.com, must be registered with
appropriate root name server.  This is called a glue record
(http://www.dyndns.org/support/kb/gluerecords.html) and is done by your domain
registrar.  Most registrars give you the option of doing a 'register name
server' or 'register host'.  It has been awhile since I have used godaddy.com,
but I believe they have something like that as well.  Once you have the glue
records for your name servers setup, which will be something like
ns1.example.com and ns2.example.com or a.ns.example.com and b.ns.example.com if
you follow DJB's style, then you are ready to setup your own dns records for
your domain.

As far as moving your current business domain name, there really is no reason
you have to work with your ISP at all, except to cancel your service once you
are done.  Now, if you do work with them they may be kind enough to forward all
of your email that gets sent to them during the dns crossover window (not the
official term) to your new mail server.  Otherwise all you need to do is change
the appropriate name servers with your registrar for your business domain to
match your new domains, and then setup the appropriate dns records to point to
your new hosting box.  If you want to change name servers for your domain, which
is a 24-72 hr process, while still leaving your business website hosted on your
ISP's servers, then you will want to emulate the dns records that your ISP has
setup.  You can figure out what they are by using whois, dig, and host.  If you
need any help doing this I would be more than happy to help you out.

>   The ORA book focuses on bind and named. Other than the on-line Web pages
> for tinydns I don't know of other reading materials.

Unfortunately I don't know of much tinydns specific documentation on the web.  I
basically just read the docs on djb's site.  However, you can always look up
information regarding dns on the web for general info.

I hope you can get past the bad grammar to the information that is useful.

Phil Schultz
Head Salem LUG Guy
www.salemlug.org