Starting out

Firstly, amazing site and great help from those that post. I am sure the lesser folk like me appreciate those that take the time to answer the post.

Not really looking for an answer yet, but I would like to run by what I have set up and heading for, and you can tell me If I am going in the right direction.

Setup up a Apache Server, PHP, MySQl and Perl on a XP Pro machine. Works great as a local, but wanted to extend this to the internet just to see if I can.

So after a little research, I believe I needed BIND9. So I copied it install.

I register some genetic web name (for testing purposes), and went too ZoneEdit.com and got myself some DNS numbers and notified the registering company to change the names. (Gonna take 2 -3 days they say to take affect.)

I have seen a link by SilentRage which he has templates to use in the /etc folder (which have to be manually created/edited). (Clueless on how to do this right now, but more reading is required.)

I also believe I have to change my httpd file in apache to point to this domain name I have now, as well as the DNS number I got from ZoneEdit. As well as write the code for the virtual domain.

I am guessing once all this is done, it should work.

Does this sound about right to those who know? And though I have been looking on the web all morning long, information just doesn't seem to be point blank to what to do, especially when using an Windows system (Linux / Unix seem to come up a lot). Does anybody have a web site that might present a good picture or a book perhaps?

Thanks in advance.

Edit: Ok I came across a question reading some more threads here. My machine has a unique IP address, when I registered at zoneedit, I got 2 more addresses (DNS #'2 right?), and when I created the domain name, shouldn't that have a unique number as well. Just trying to piece it together, when someone eventually types www.example.com, how does it eventually gets to my machine? Other than being on my local machine, I never indicated anywhere my IP address to associate it with this domain.

So 1) I should have reported this IP address when I changed the names server from my registering company.

2) I need to change my local machines numbers to match the ones that zonedit gave me?

Hmmm <scratches head>

Well I myself don't know of any books to get ya going. As for BIND configuration there is a manual you could read. Nothing wrong with just fiddling around on your own, and asking questions when you get stuck.