DNS NT vs HP-UX

[Verónica Muñoz Segovia]

This is regarding my last question on about the delay on telnet DNS NT Server as Primary.
What could be the advantages or disadvantages to configure two DNS one for each plataform, or what is more recommended configure an additional HP-UX DNS besides the existing NT DNS?

Thanks in advance

Veronica

[Verónica Muñoz Segovia]

THIS WAS MY LAST QUESTION!,,,,
////////////////////////////////

I everybody!

My company have three sites named CMX1, CMX2 and CMX3, each one has a DNS NT Server, and the UNIX Servers for each plant has that NT DNS Server defined.

Today the NT Admin turn off the DNS forwards, and in that moment if anybody could conect to any of the servers by telnet we had a delay, about 20 seconds. I configure DNS on Name Server Switch from SAM I put the first source /etc/hosts and as sencond DNS.

If I put only /etc/hosts the conection by telnet is immediately. Why is this happening?

Or if the NT Admin turn on again the forwarders, my problem is resolve, I don't have any NT experience, and I don't know what those forwards do.

Then, these are my questions?

Why happend that with the turn on, turn off of the NT forwards?

Why I resolve my problem if is only configure the /etc/hosts in the Name Service Switch?

What others alternatives are possible to avoid this big problem to me? Could I put HP-UX as a secondary DNS?

I have never done a DNS Unix, somebody could help me?

I know there are a lot of questions but I will appreciated your comments.

Best Regards,

Veronica

[Verónica Muñoz Segovia]

THIS WAS MY LAST QUESTION!,,,,
////////////////////////////////

I everybody!

My company have three sites named CMX1, CMX2 and CMX3, each one has a DNS NT Server, and the UNIX Servers for each plant has that NT DNS Server defined.

Today the NT Admin turn off the DNS forwards, and in that moment if anybody could conect to any of the servers by telnet we had a delay, about 20 seconds. I configure DNS on Name Server Switch from SAM I put the first source /etc/hosts and as sencond DNS.

If I put only /etc/hosts the conection by telnet is immediately. Why is this happening?

Or if the NT Admin turn on again the forwarders, my problem is resolve, I don't have any NT experience, and I don't know what those forwards do.

Then, these are my questions?

Why happend that with the turn on, turn off of the NT forwards?

Why I resolve my problem if is only configure the /etc/hosts in the Name Service Switch?

What others alternatives are possible to avoid this big problem to me? Could I put HP-UX as a secondary DNS?

I have never done a DNS Unix, somebody could help me?

I know there are a lot of questions but I will appreciated your comments.

Best Regards,

Veronica

[Albert E. Whale, CISSP]

Veronica,

Let me first explain that any event that happens on the network relies on some type of Name/IP Address resolution. I think that you've accurately displayed the actions of using either /etc/hosts or DNS for this resolution service.

If the DNS Forwarding capability of the NT platform is disabled, this essentially means that DNS answers must reside on the NT box, or else it will not contact any other DNS servers to get an answer. It's a useful means of test the resolution of server, but it can severely disrupt a Production environment if the NT Server does not have all of the IP Addresses to resolve the queries.

The /etc/nsswitch.conf file determines whether Name/Address resolution is maintained via the /etc/hosts file (via the keyword file), or DNS (via the keyword DNS).

In your situation, I would highly recommend installing either the Nameserver addresses which the NT Servers use for their resolution (in the /etc/resolv.conf file), or to establish a fully functional Secondary Caching server which maintains the entire Domain Structure for your company. The later will make you more reliable and immune to all of the changes which your NT Administrator deems appropriate to test upon you.

Please let me know if you need further instructions and if this information was helpful.

Happy Halloween!