Setting up authoritative DNS server insight please.

[Caramon]

First off, I'm planning on setting up a Linux server or the first time. I've done a lot of reading but and am getting tidbits, but no clarity on how to actually set up an authorative server from Installing OS to actually hosting domains and web sites beginning with my own.

Also, I'm not understanding how an ISP functions in the context of running an authoritative web server or any web server. Forgive me my ignorance.

As for an OS, I'm thinking Mandrake 8.1 0r 8.2, Apache and djbdns.

By the by, must I have two boxes running to do this? At first I will only be hosting my own domain and getting a handle on all of this.

Hardware:

Gigabyte GA-7DXR
Athlon XP 1.47GHz
1024MB Basic Mushkin DDR
Western Digital 20GB 7200rpm (2)?
3Com PCI 10/100 NIC
Cable Modem ?
ATI Xpert 128 16mb

Thanks in advance for your insightful help.

best,

Caramon

:)

[hooj]

Well I am sorta learning the same thing at the moment, but if you are using a cable modem that means you probably have a dynamic ip instead of a static ip. If this is true and you plan on only hosting 1 or 2 sites I would suggest that you use some external services.
http://www.noip.com
http://www.dyndns.com/ http://www.dyndns.org
http://www.secondary.com/
If by chance you get static ip's take a look here. Found some useful info here
http://posadis.sourceforge.net/
Best of luck to you :)

[ 21 March 2002: Message edited by: hooj ]

[ 21 March 2002: Message edited by: hooj ]

[Caramon]

Thanks.

Perhaps I should clarify my intentions. I want to set up a web server and maintain my own domains. I do not want to use any external services and I am not limiting it to one or two sites. I will begin with my own web site, which is, I suspect, what most people do when they are doing this for the first time.

I don't want to be a pest here. Perhaps someone might direct me to some source, be it book or online, for the information I need to complete such an endeavor. As I said in my previous post, I am gathering tidbits, but not getting any comprehensive information.

Just a note: I have a "?" next to the cable modem in the above post. I would certainly listen to suggestions on that subject.

Thanks very much indeed, :D

Caramon

[hooj]

Here are a few links to some things that might help you some on your quest.
http://www.swelltech.com/support/webminguide/server-bind.html
http://www.linuxhelp.net/guides/joey/bind.shtml
http://www.ludd.luth.se/~kavli/BIND-FAQ.html
A good book to get. (http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/dns4/)

Now as for your connection, Call up some local isp's and get some prices for a Fractional T1, start of small you can always upgrade. Tell them your plans and that you are going to need x amount of static ip's.
For the most part I sure hope this helps.

[Caramon]

Thanks again Hooj. I really appreciate your help. No doubt it will help me get to where I'm going.

I'd like to hear about your server and what you're doing with it. :)

best,

Caramon