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Xeo · Jul 7, 2001, 10:53 AM

I'm sitting here registering my first domain name. I've chosen Dotster after reading a few threads on the subject. I almost get through it and it asks me to enter the first of 2 DNS!? If I don't have them, then it will
"park" my domain. What DNS to I use? Do I have to register them myself? I thought that's what InterNIC (or whatever it's called) is for.

Can someone explain this to me? All I really want my domain for is to assign it to my IP so I don't have to type the IP anymore. I may eventually use it for a website, but for now I just want it as my IP substitute.

Thanks for any help. I hope you understand my confusion.

screamingFit · Jul 7, 2001, 12:09 PM

The NS fields will be the NS for your site, or more specifically, the NS of your site host. What happens is in the main registry for DNS, there is a record for your domain name. In that info it basically says, "If I want to get to this site, contact the hosted sites NS in the record and that NS will point me to the correct address."

If you don't have a hosted site, you'll want to use something like redirection.net. With this, I believe, you can point to a specific IP address.

I could be missing the boat on this one, so dig around alittle.

-s'fit

prolix · Jul 7, 2001, 01:29 PM

Just call whoever is hosting your site. They are the ones who will hold the DNS records for your domain.

If you are hosting it yourself.. you need to have someone hold the dns records for your site. There are places around that will do this. They have to create a record in their nameservers. Then they will just point your domain to the ip of your server.

Raman · Jul 7, 2001, 07:52 PM

o.k. i wrote a lengthy explanation but i was basically describing DNS and how the names are transformed to numbers.

dotster needs to know what company is holding the files for your website. if you don't tell it at this point in time then whenever someone types in raman-sinha.com for instance, they will get a generic page by dotster saying that "your domain name is registered or sometihng but not up yet".

you can go into dotster and add/change the DNS/NS when you get a web host.

i'm parking coastaldev.com on dotster and it's sending everyone to raman-sinha.com/coastaldev/index.html. when i find a good, but cheap webhost (certainly not the ones hosting raman-sinha.com) i'll go into my dotster control panel and put in teh IP addresses of my webhosts Domain Name Servers (DNS or NS for short).

*DNS stands for different things depending on who/what company/what context its being used in. but in the end it refers to the "internet" converting a name to an IP address before doing anything - similar to if i told you my name, you'd have to do a lookup in the phone book to be able to call me. that's exactly what DNS does.

Xeo · Jul 8, 2001, 03:33 PM

I found a place that does free DNS hosting.

Public DNS

The only problem is I don't know if I set up the "RRs" correctly. For the "RR" I was only given a text field to enter information. I used the "example" they provided and changed it a bit to fit my information. I think it's right, but I don't know. My domain should have been working through this DNS today but it isn't and I'm not sure why.

Is there a way to test it? I've tried just loading the domain and it doesn't go. How long does it usually take to start working? I'm confused because I've never done this and I don't know how it works.

Any suggestions or help?

Raman · Jul 8, 2001, 04:56 PM

Originally posted by Xeo:
I found a place that does free DNS hosting.

Public DNS

The only problem is I don't know if I set up the "RRs" correctly. For the "RR" I was only given a text field to enter information. I used the "example" they provided and changed it a bit to fit my information. I think it's right, but I don't know. My domain should have been working through this DNS today but it isn't and I'm not sure why.

Is there a way to test it? I've tried just loading the domain and it doesn't go. How long does it usually take to start working? I'm confused because I've never done this and I don't know how it works.

Any suggestions or help?

DNS servers all over the world have to be updated so that they know to ask your DNS server for your www.yourname.com's ip addres. this usually takes 24-48 hours.

what is your registered name (yourname.com)?
what is your IP address (if you know it - you probably do because your webhost probably gave it to you when they gave you your FTP account). your webhost usually handles things like this - you shouldn't have to go thru a third-party DNS liek you're trying to.

Xeo · Jul 9, 2001, 05:53 AM

Originally posted by Raman:
what is your registered name (yourname.com)?

silter.org

what is your IP address (if you know it - you probably do because your webhost probably gave it to you when they gave you your FTP account).

138.236.216.50

your webhost usually handles things like this - you shouldn't have to go thru a third-party DNS liek you're trying to.

I am my own web host. I'm running it on my computer using OS X, Apache, and PHP.

The web server isn't always on, nor is the computer always running. The main purpose for silter.org is it's easier to type than the IP. Plus, I'm working on a web page and it's easier to have people check it out using a domain. I've been using dyndns.org's service (bigpooter.homeip.net), but for $15, I can afford to get a real domain.

My ISP is my college. I'm not sure what DNS they use. They go through an ISP out of the city we're in (dual T1s). I was going to ask them if they can do it, but it was the weekend and I wanted it done... I can ask today, though.

I'll have to wait 'til later to see if it's working. Thanks.

Any other help is most welcome.

macvillage.net · Jul 10, 2001, 01:51 PM

use mydomain.com dns servers to redirect your domain name to your IP address (static IP address required)

I would also note that it may be against the rules of your university to run a web site over their network due to bandwidth costs.

Xeo · Jul 11, 2001, 10:17 AM

Originally posted by macvillage.net:
I would also note that it may be against the rules of your university to run a web site over their network due to bandwidth costs.

That may be, I'd have to check. But as I said before, I'm NOT hosting a web site yet. I'm using the domain as a pointer to my IP. That's all, right now. I may use it for a web site in the future, but not yet.

Anyway, I'll have to check out mydomain.com. I really want to know what "RRs" are and how to set them up. My domain still isn't working and I don't know why. I don't understand this DNS stuff.

Xeo · Jul 12, 2001, 12:58 PM

OK, I feel stupid now. :::sigh:::

Guess what? I had it all set up correctly, I just didn't read the confirmation e-mail. The e-mail they send you is the one ONLY the admin of the domain gets and has to forward it back to the company. I never forwarded it after "checking" to see if the information was correct. So, I did it a second time, got the e-mail and forwarded it like I was supposed to. At midnight my domain started working.

"is it magic or is it inter-net!!"

Raman · Jul 13, 2001, 02:35 PM

Originally posted by Xeo:
OK, I feel stupid now. :::sigh:::

Guess what? I had it all set up correctly, I just didn't read the confirmation e-mail. The e-mail they send you is the one ONLY the admin of the domain gets and has to forward it back to the company. I never forwarded it after "checking" to see if the information was correct. So, I did it a second time, got the e-mail and forwarded it like I was supposed to. At midnight my domain started working.

"is it magic or is it inter-net!!"

O.k. I used "Whatroute" to check out your network & here's what I got:

Domain Name: SILTER.ORG
Registrar: DOTSTER, INC.
Whois Server: whois.dotster.com
Referral URL: http://http://www.dotster.com/help/whois
Name Server: NS1.GRANITECANYON.COM
Name Server: NS2.GRANITECANYON.COM
Updated Date: 07-jul-2001

Start: 7/13/01 2:28:25 PM
;; Query: 138.236.216.50 ,type = PTR , class = ANY

;; ANSWERS:
50.216.236.138.in-addr.arpa. 259078 IN PTR s018.wahl.res-hall.gac.edu.

;; AUTHORITY RECORDS:
236.138.in-addr.arpa. 345478 IN NS solen.gac.edu.
236.138.in-addr.arpa. 345478 IN NS ns2.onvoy.net.
236.138.in-addr.arpa. 345478 IN NS ns2.nodak.edu.

;; ADDITIONAL RECORDS:
solen.gac.edu. 114867 IN A 138.236.128.18
ns2.onvoy.net. 162679 IN A 206.9.64.104
ns2.nodak.edu. 28402 IN A 134.129.201.29

� DNR Query complete 7/13/01 2:28:26 PM �

Start: 7/13/01 2:33:37 PM
Address Scan: 138.236.216.0/255.255.255.0 (255 hosts)

Time Stamp mSecs IP Address Host Name
7/13/01 2:33:37 PM : 130.42 : 138.236.216.1 : switch-0.wahl.res-hall.gac.edu.
7/13/01 2:33:37 PM : 141.37 : 138.236.216.2 : switch-1.wahl.res-hall.gac.edu.
7/13/01 2:33:38 PM : 149.31 : 138.236.216.3 : switch-2.wahl.res-hall.gac.edu.
7/13/01 2:33:39 PM : 84.42 : 138.236.216.16 : printer.wahl.res-hall.gac.edu.
7/13/01 2:33:39 PM : 80.70 : 138.236.216.17 : pc-01.wahl.res-hall.gac.edu.
7/13/01 2:33:39 PM : 98.57 : 138.236.216.18 : pc-02.wahl.res-hall.gac.edu.
7/13/01 2:33:39 PM : 106.39 : 138.236.216.19 : pc-03.wahl.res-hall.gac.edu.
7/13/01 2:33:40 PM : 59.08 : 138.236.216.21 : pc-05.wahl.res-hall.gac.edu.
7/13/01 2:33:40 PM : 58.79 : 138.236.216.22 : mac-06.wahl.res-hall.gac.edu.
7/13/01 2:33:40 PM : 71.97 : 138.236.216.23 : mac-07.wahl.res-hall.gac.edu.
7/13/01 2:33:41 PM : 73.54 : 138.236.216.31 : headres.wahl.res-hall.gac.edu.
7/13/01 2:33:41 PM : 73.52 : 138.236.216.32 : s001.wahl.res-hall.gac.edu.
7/13/01 2:33:41 PM : 58.40 : 138.236.216.33 : s002.wahl.res-hall.gac.edu.
7/13/01 2:33:41 PM : 58.12 : 138.236.216.34 : s003.wahl.res-hall.gac.edu.
7/13/01 2:33:41 PM : 73.82 : 138.236.216.36 : s005.wahl.res-hall.gac.edu.
7/13/01 2:33:42 PM : 68.22 : 138.236.216.37 : s006.wahl.res-hall.gac.edu.
7/13/01 2:33:42 PM : 67.93 : 138.236.216.38 : s007.wahl.res-hall.gac.edu.
7/13/01 2:33:42 PM : 83.81 : 138.236.216.39 : s008.wahl.res-hall.gac.edu.
7/13/01 2:33:42 PM : 97.42 : 138.236.216.40 : s009.wahl.res-hall.gac.edu.
7/13/01 2:33:42 PM : 113.61 : 138.236.216.42 : s011.wahl.res-hall.gac.edu.
7/13/01 2:33:42 PM : 113.58 : 138.236.216.43 : s012.wahl.res-hall.gac.edu.
7/13/01 2:33:43 PM : 93.45 : 138.236.216.49 : s017.wahl.res-hall.gac.edu.
7/13/01 2:33:43 PM : 105.89 : 138.236.216.50 : silter.org
7/13/01 2:33:43 PM : 105.86 : 138.236.216.51 : s019.wahl.res-hall.gac.edu.
7/13/01 2:33:43 PM : 105.84 : 138.236.216.52 : s020.wahl.res-hall.gac.edu.
7/13/01 2:33:44 PM : 131.71 : 138.236.216.59 : s027.wahl.res-hall.gac.edu.
7/13/01 2:33:45 PM : 82.66 : 138.236.216.62 : s030.wahl.res-hall.gac.edu.
7/13/01 2:33:45 PM : 85.83 : 138.236.216.63 : s031.wahl.res-hall.gac.edu.
7/13/01 2:33:45 PM : 85.81 : 138.236.216.64 : s032.wahl.res-hall.gac.edu.
7/13/01 2:33:45 PM : 61.08 : 138.236.216.65 : s033.wahl.res-hall.gac.edu.
7/13/01 2:33:46 PM : 51.40 : 138.236.216.69 : s037.wahl.res-hall.gac.edu.
7/13/01 2:33:46 PM : 51.11 : 138.236.216.70 : s038.wahl.res-hall.gac.edu.
7/13/01 2:33:46 PM : 51.07 : 138.236.216.71 : s039.wahl.res-hall.gac.edu.
7/13/01 2:33:56 PM : 51.30 : 138.236.216.153 : s121.wahl.res-hall.gac.edu.
7/13/01 2:33:59 PM : 103.75 : 138.236.216.176 : s144.wahl.res-hall.gac.edu.
7/13/01 2:33:59 PM : 125.62 : 138.236.216.178 : s146.wahl.res-hall.gac.edu.
7/13/01 2:34:06 PM : 80.80 : 138.236.216.231 : s199.wahl.res-hall.gac.edu.

37 hosts have replied
� Address Scan complete 7/13/01 2:34:14 PM �

Interesting - no one else has registered their IP addresses on that particular portion of the subnet. I would check to make sure that you are allowed to.

Anyway. You might as well at least just have port 80 open for http requests with a page that says "hi, i'm here" or something, or port 17 for the message of the day and edit the message of the day text file so if anyone portscans you, they'll at least have somethign to laugh at.

Have fun.

Xeo · Jul 13, 2001, 08:29 PM

I don't know if I'm allowed to or not, but I did. Anyway, that doesn't matter until someone brings it up. I've been using a free service from dyndns.org for a while and I wanted my own domain so I went for it.

I do have my web server on; port 80. You can only see my web page when I'm in OS X though. I'm in OS 9.1 a lot because my roommate is playing Deus Ex. Any other times I'm in OS X though.

I don't know about the MOTD thing. I did have it changed at one point. Right now, because I formatted, I think it says "Welcome to Darwin." I didn't know you could scan a port and get that, though. I thought it was just for telnet'in/ssh'in. Port 17, eh? Is it always on?

What do you scan it with? What other tools are there? There are web monitoring tools, right? So I can see visitors and such? I'm pretty new to this, and I don't know what software is out there that can do these things. I also don't know of any tools to find out about someone's IP, or the domain,or anything like that.

I'm currently waiting to see if "www.silter.org" will work. I tried to set it up earlier and now I have to wait for the changes to take effect. I didn't know www was just another subdomain that had to be set up. I thought it was the "default" or something.

Thanks for your help, though.

Raman · Jul 14, 2001, 11:37 AM

There are port scanners etc.. You won't get MOTD if you scan ports but if you had all ports shut down and had the MOTD up only and someone saw the port open and tried to telnet into it they'd get a nice MOTD and that's it.

Yeah, the whole reason dynamic DNS works is because the higher level domain registrars/servers only have authority at yourname.com. yes there is actually a . at the end but i won't get into that. So yourname.com and www.yourname.com and ftp.yourname.com and mymachine.mydormroom.yourname.com are all different addresses. your DNS will have to route www.yourname.com and yourname.com to the same place. often it does.

If I were you, I'd probably do some reading on internet protocols and archietecture. Things like TCP, IP, UDP, Ports, DNS, Routing. It's fascinating and you'll have a better appreciation and awareness of security. A really good chapter on it that I found was in a Windows 2000 Server book. It took you from zero to useful knowledge on the matter.

Have fun.

Xeo · Jul 16, 2001, 10:43 PM

Well, I don't understand all of it (the list you sort of made), but most of it I have a grasp of. At the beginning of this thread I didn't understand DNS servers were seperate altogether, and at register.com you don't just put in your IP and it'll work. I get it now, though.

I set up www.silter.org to be a CNAME record off silter.org. I think I understand the dot (.) at the end of the domains. They indicate the root, the very root of domains. Just as "silter" is part of "org", and "www" is part of "silter", "org" and "com" are part of the root... and the dot symbolizes that. If I'm completely wrong on this, please correct me.

Anyway, I have a grasp of DNS now and how to set up the resourse records. That's all I need at this point. I set up a sub-domain to be my iBook's IP too. That's cool. I've found it extremely useful to have my own domain, even if I don't have a website up all the time. I recommend to everyone to pay the $15 (unless you have a dynamic address, in which it probably costs more).