Linux config affecting DNS

Versions:
OS = Redhat 9.0
DNS = BIND 9

Config files
1./etc/sysconfig/network
NETWORKING=yes
GATEWAY=227.126.27.169
HOSTNAME=linux.xi.com /* should this be ns1.xi.com? */

2. /etc/sysconfig/networking/devices/ifcfg-eth0
DEVICE=eth0
ONBOOT=yes
BOOTPROTO=static
IPADDR=227.126.27.170
NETMASK=255.255.255.248
GATEWAY=227.126.27.169

3. /etc/hosts
127.0.0.1 localhost.localdomain localhost
227.126.27.170 linux.xi.com linux /*should this be ns1.xi.com and should I add 227.126.27.171 for ns2.xi.com */

IFCONFIG
eth0 inet addr:227.126.27.170 Bcast:227.126.27.175 Mask:255.255.255.248

eth0:0 inet addr:227.126.27.171 Bcast:227.126.27.175 Mask:255.255.255.248

I already setup bind(9.0) in linux (Redhat 9.0) and configured according to the very useful sticky in this forum. Now I have the following clarifications:

I am setting up a virtual hosting, I host several .COMs in a single linux machine. By following the sticky on linux, is this only applicable to the primary domain name assigned to the machine? i already created a host in my registrar(stargateinc.com) for xi.com , ns1.xi.com and ns2.xi.com pointing to the IP of my machine (eth0 and eth0:0).

a. what will me my hostname? is its has to be ns1.xi.com or i can use other value?

b. what would be included in the /etc/hosts file? should it be
227.126.27.170 ns1.xi.com ns1
227.126.27.171 ns2.xi.com ns2

c. if i will add a new domain name, do i need to replicate the zone file of the xi.com or there is a different entries in thezone file. example: newdomain.com (ns1.xi.com and ns2.xi.com), newdomain2.com (ns1.xi.com and ns2.xi.com) what will be the entries in the zone file and the named.conf for this matter


Thank you so much

xorprime

1./etc/sysconfig/network
Doesn't matter what HOSTNAME is set to. It is not used by BIND. On my system I set HOSTNAME to my root domain.

3. /etc/hosts
I don't see any reason why you should map IPs to domains in this file. That should be handled by the BIND server with the exception of the loopback entry.

"is this only applicable to the primary domain name assigned to the machine?"

Doesn't matter what's assigned to the machine.

"i already created a host in my registrar(stargateinc.com) for xi.com , ns1.xi.com and ns2.xi.com pointing to the IP of my machine (eth0 and eth0:0)."

Delete the xi.com host entry. It's always bothered me when people do this. It's contrary to what the system was designed for.

"a. what will me my hostname? is its has to be ns1.xi.com or i can use other value?"

Use any value you want. If I were to recommend something, it would be either the root domain or the mail server domain since in my experience mail server's use the hostname as a default configuration value.

"b. what would be included in the /etc/hosts file?"

Don't include anything in the hosts file except loopback. Centralize domain management with BIND.

"c. yadda named.conf yadda xi.com zone yadda..."

uh, manage all your domain resolution in the zone file that is loaded by the named.conf.