Can I have DNS and Apache on the same machine?

I have a problem... I need a DNS solution for several domain names. I've tried the services: Granitecanyon, slow, no customized ns name... ZoneEdit, too expensive for several zones....
I've decided that I need my own DNS server. Is it possible (feasable) to have a DNS running on the same machine as my main web server?
Or would it be better to run a small machine dedicated to it (which would be harder for me to do... gotta find one, and electricity costs are sky rocketing here in southern Cali)

Recommendations along with explanations would be very much appreciated.

Yes, you can have DNS and Apache on the same server. If you only have a few sites then this would be fine.

I will be hosting 30+ sites... should I just set up a dedicated DNS machine?

>> should I just set up a dedicated DNS machine?

Yes you should just because I believe you will be running a mail server as well. If your web server box is down, at least mail server can be up and running to serve your clients (mail server relies on nameserver but not webserver).

I have a machine I can use as a DNS server... actually it's the machine I wanted to use as the server, but I was able to build a brand new, faster, better comp as the server.
ALright... .Now... I want to use the old one as a DNS and Email server... If I install BSD, can I run both at the same time? and is BIND the name of the DNS program?

Do you mean can you use DNS and mail on the same machine? If this is what you are asking then yes. Also, yes you can use BIND for DNS.

... at least for now... hehe

Is it possible to run both NS1 and NS2 on one machine? or would that just compromise the reason for having two... I know ns2 is suppose to be a back up for ns1, but since registrars require it, I dunno what I should do.

Thanx

spinkick:

Unfortunately, I can't offer you any help here. But, I am trying to do the exact same thing your doing. I'm also a newbie and I would appreciate it if you could offer me any advice on your processes of setting up a Apache, DNS servers (NS 1 & NS2). I have two websites that I would like to host and am running Apache on a Win98 machine. Please feel free to email me regarding any suggestions, help, etc.

Email: ryanschulz@yahoo.com

Thanks.

>> Is it possible to run both NS1 and NS2 on one machine?

Yes.

>> but since registrars require it, I dunno what I should do

Just put whatever IP and hostname there. To zone transfer or not zone transfer, you have full control yourself with your named.conf file. You can run just a master nameserver (no slave nameserver at all) and not doing any zone transfer at all as registrars can't control this matter.
Running ns2 on the same box is redundant. Running ns2 on the same network defeats the purpose of what a slave nameserver is for, but not technically true, however. Say your ISP is down (no connection to the net), both ns1 and ns2 would be down. But for another case if ns1 is down for maintenance or machine crash or another reason other than the connection lost, ns2 at least could be up and running to serve dns request temporarily. So running ns2 on the same network is better than nothing. Anyhow it would be best if you can find a friend to do slave nameserver for you.