Primary and Secondary with one ip

Hi,

I currently only have one public ip. From what I have read the secondary nameserver is only used if the primary fails. Since I am only learning to set up dns can I just use my one ip for my primary and secondary dns ip's OR should I just register ns1.mydomain.com using my one static ip will this work??

Is this correct. I already own a domain with network solutions. I log in there and register my domain as a host
ns1.mydomain.com xxx.54.67.122
ns2.mydomain.com xxx.54.67.122

Then change my domain name nameservers to my new nameservers? ns1 and ns2

I read somewhere you need at least 2 ip's to register your domain as a host is this true? I don't want to pay for a second ip yet while i'm still learning and I only have one pc with one nic card

Thanks, Jenn

for learning purposes, you could setup two nameservers on one host, but it will be quite some work.
you should really use a local-only setup. get a second machine and test it in a local network (192.168.*)

What did you read? IMHO this is total bull****. Any machine on the net is a "host" (no need to register with anyone but maybe your dial-up ISP) and to register a domain, one IP is more than enough. (you can even do it without a single IP!)

>> I read somewhere you need at least 2 ip's to register your domain as a host is this true?
I think one of the major domain registrars (Network Solutions??) used to impose this restriction a few years ago. Other registrars didn't care and I think they stopped caring too.

You can register::
ns1.yourdomain.com
ns2.yourdomain.com

to the same IP address and point your domain name's primary and secondary to your newly registered nameservers.

I am not sure about networksolutions, but directnic.com will allow you to assign mulitple nameservers to 1 IP address.

Also, you could share secondary DNS service with another user in your same boat and register ns2.yourdomain.com to your shared "slave" server.

good luck,
-ab

good idea, do it on a mutual agreement. you host his secondary, he hosts yours...

Thanks all who replied.

I did manage to get the ns1.mydomain.com hosts registered and for my ns2 I just incremented the last octet of my ip by one. I know it's a bogus secondary but it's working for now. I'll take the suggestion to find someone or a service to run slave fo me.

btw - it must be the way network solutions has there script wrote to register hosts online if you don't enter second nameserver and ip it will not record the first one so it seems with them 2 are required.

Best Regards, Jenn

>> the secondary nameserver is only used if the primary fails

Absolutely wrong. Unlike MX record where there is a priority preference, when it comes to nameserver they can be queued RANDOMLY and simultaneously.

I just read this about the IP uniqueness problem for domain registration:


bit hard to follow this quote out of context - the whole article is here: http://cr.yp.to/djbdns/dot-com.html.

Does this mean the requirement that 2 DNS servers for a given domain cannot point to the same IP address is now obsolete?