Step by Step DNS setup for Win2k

Hello, I am new to this forum and I have been reading mostly all the post on DNS here. I have a pretty good understanding as to what is needed to configure DNS. I thought that a good step by step instructions would be a valuable source for myself as well as the community. Here is what I would like to accomplish:

I have a registered domain name (xalotech.com) with register.com.

I am running Win2k as my Domain Controller, Webserver, soon to be DNS Server, etc...

I want to add Exchange 2000 to host my own email server. I have tried to configure most things and the best results I received was the ability to send email to my @msn.com account. Unable to send to @comcast.net account.

I am also unable to recieve email. I am behind a router connected to my 1 IP dynamically assigned, server plugged into router and all virtual ports are open.

Please help me! I have been trying for 1 week now.

Thank you so very much in advance.

Cheers!

Since you ask all this in DNS forum, I assume you are concerning about the DNS portion.

>> I am behind a router connected to my 1 IP dynamically assigned

Forget it, don't waste your time on DNS when you have just a dynamic IP, you don't quite qualify to host your own mail server, let alone DNS.

Anyhow, if you really wanted to play this toy, go for SpeakEasy.net

It actually depends. I myself have a dynamic IP address, but because I'm constantly connected to the internet, and because of how DHCP works on cable, it never changes. On the chance that it does (like say I'm offline for a couple weeks) then I can update everything and expect another year or so of unchanged IP.

But anyway, marshall, the reason I hadn't replied to your post earlier was cause you ask too much. I'm tired of helping people who gets the idea they want a DNS server and jump onto a forum and ask for people to hold their hand through it. Make some personal effort, then if things just don't work, ask a more specific question.

----->I'm tired of helping people who gets the idea they want a DNS server and jump onto a forum and ask for people to hold their hand through it. Make some personal effort, then if things just don't work, ask a more specific question.<----------



Hey I can respect that!....As far as effort I have been working on this for a week now. Countless hours.

Here is my specific question then. My domain is xalotech.com

My mail server is: mail.xalotech.com.

I have current DNS records like this:

Parent host MX mail.xalotech.com
Parent host A 68.80.83.205
mail.xalotech.com A 68.80.83.205
Parent host SOA mail.
Parent host NS ns1.xalotech.com
ns1.xalotech.com A 68.80.83.205

I have my router pointing to my private address of this server at 192.168.0.101. All ports are open that are necessary.

Question: Do you see anything wrong with this setup? I was having trouble receiving email?

Hope this is better.

Thanks for the help.

1) The "Parent host SOA mail." should really be "Parent host SOA ns1." Though this is not most important.
2) register.com sux. It's harder to get out.
3) You are not hosting your own DNS, therefore, whatever you setup is useless at this moment.

mail.xalotech.com doesn't point to 68.80.83.205. It has no A record at all.

That's very true, to help clarify:

Currently your domain is hosted by register.com. Since this is true, I assume you can edit your records using your register.com account. Currently you have mail.xalotech.com setup as the MX for your domain and will recieve emails. however, you have not specified the IP address for mail.xalotech.com on the register.com servers so email won't get to you.

There is a small chance that a mail resolver might use the IP address for your domain '68.80.83.205' in the event it can't use the MX records. For this reason you might sometimes get mail, and sometimes not, depending on the sender.

So what now? Either switch your domain hosting to yourself, or fix the records on the register.com servers.

Two things:

1) On register.com I have an MX record that is set like this

xalotech.com MX mail.xalotech.com

Not sure where on register.com I can specify my mail server address.

2) I think I would rather host my own domain and not them. Wouldn't you agree?

Thank you so very much for this help so far.

Cheers

I just switched my domain name to Godaddy.com. Register.com was flat out ignorant to me!