DNS Configuration

[donne007]

I run a web server in a linux box and we dont have a DNSs server any where in the LAN. How do i resolve the Name(FQDN) in a LAN. Is it advisable to run a DNS server& a web server in the same Box.I even tried runnig the Named and adding entry in to the /etc/named.conf but of no help ..
I can resolve the names only if i give a Dns server Ip Entry in the Windows Boxes. Is there any way out to resolve a Name with out giving a dns entry in win boxes and resolving in the same linux box .
can any one help me out .
Thanx & rgds
Asif

[Stuart Browne]

Ok, this gets a bit messy.

If you want your linux box to resolve, but don't really wish to run your own name server, you just alter /etc/resolv.conf, and make sure the line 'nameserver ' points to your up-stream ISP's DNS server.

If you only have a few machines on the local network (ie, less than 10 or so), it's best just to use the /etc/hosts file for local resolution of hosts.

On the Windows machines, the same methods are available. Using your upstream ISP's DNS, and hosts files for local addresses:

For Win '9x:
%WINDIR%\hosts

For NT/XP/2000:
%WINDIR%\System32\Drivers\etc\hosts

Both *nix and Windows use the same format in the 'hosts' file:


ie.
192.168.1.3 alfred


If you have a larger local network however, and you perceive that running your own DNS server internally would be worth while, making the correct modifications to /etc/named.conf, as well as your 'named.local' file (usually in /var/named) can be worth while.

Before attempting this however I'd highly advise reading a named/bind/DNS HOW-TO. These should be available on the RH7.1 Documentation CD.

NOTE: If you don't want to have to assign a DNS server on your Windows boxes, you might want to look into DHCP. This allows you to not only assign the IP address to the PC, but also DNS server, gateway, and subnet values. Very handy!

If you require more details about anything mentioned here, feel free to post back to the list.

[donne007]

I did changes in the Win9x and Nt/200 boxec in the host files and hope to be wrking fine .
But again the problem is withthe proxy it serches in the proxy wheras the webserver is in the intranet LAN

I want to resolve the name in the linux box. even idid changes in the /etc/named.conf as ..
Zone "www.domainname.com " {
type master;
file:www.domainname.com.zone:;
};

the other changes are in the /var/named/named.local i renamed to the
/var/named/named.
where
inspite of this No luck ..

[Stuart Browne]

What do you have in the file 'www.domainname.com.zone' ?

What URL are you giving for the Intranet page (which is being directed to the proxy) ? Is it a FQDN? Or is it just 'localmachine' ?

Either way, IE can be configured to not use the proxy for a given site, and I'd suggest telling IE to not go to proxy for 'local sites' (ie. 'hostname', as against 'hostname.domain.com').

Depending on what proxy you are using, you could also tell the Proxy to just pass the Intranet URL direct (instead of 'proxying' it).

[donne007]

I,m not using proxy for the particular site , since it's an Intanet site.
the file www.doimainname.com.zone...?? what andwhere it it located could u be clear on this , i mentioned the same in the /var/named/named
file
rgds
asif

[Stuart Browne]

I think about here you should be going and reading the DNS-HOWTO provided with your RH 7.1 CD's (or online).

It will go in to more detail than I could fit in this little box.

It will explain what the ZONE files are about, and how they work.