6 Nameservers

[redhippo]

hey,
i have got a namesevers question. when setting them, you are given up to six options.

can you put first two of you choice: ns1.domainhop.com,ns2.domainhop.com
and the next two your back-up site: ns1.redhippo.com, ns2.redhippo.com

so that when the first/second server is down, the third/fourth becomes the backup??

can it be done or just a newbie dream!

thanks :talk:

 

[Dave_Z]

The important thing is to input at least 2. I'm not sure, though,
which registrars will allow 2 different sets of nameservers to
be input in the domain name.

This could create a conflict as to where the domain should be
redirected to. But if all the nameservers bear the same or similar
name, you'll be fine.

The more nameservers, the more redundant. Among the websites
around using 4 to 6 are the domain registrars themselves...

 

[.edu]

No you couldnt. There would be a confilict. Some use different servers for different things such as how enom uses 4. Each has their own purpose.

 

[AdoptableDomains]

The name really doesn't matter. the server does have to be registered as a nameserver and also be a DNS server with your domain entered. For redundancy, some people do use a third one that's different. Most web hosts only give two. if you need a third one, zoneedit.com is a good choice. I don't know if they still do it but a free one was granitecanyon.com

 

[simpson733]

well that is what i heard could work but it might also conflict which causes even more downtime. but you can always try it to test it out and if it doesnt work then you can always abandon it

 

[theparrot]

they do not work as backups, but alternatives, a client is free to send a request to any of the listed servers at any time, so they do not act as hot backups but rather are all live at the same time.

 

[sibaong]

Hmm I think it's ok to have more than 2 nameserver, but the problem is when the first nameserver down n your web using the second nameserver you can't login to your cpanel (linux os)... corect me if i'm wrong

 

[Dave_Z]

No you couldnt. There would be a confilict. Some use different servers for different things such as how enom uses 4. Each has their own purpose.

Ideally, yes. But believe it or not, I've seen domain names w/
2 totally different sets of DNS servers.

A freak of domain name nature, of course.

 

[matrics]

just make sure you got at least two nameservers set.

 

[theparrot]

Hmm I think it's ok to have more than 2 nameserver, but the problem is when the first nameserver down n your web using the second nameserver you can't login to your cpanel (linux os)... corect me if i'm wrong

If the nameservers as set up to spec, and the server with your cpanel login is up, then you are wrong.

 

[theparrot]

Ideally, yes. But believe it or not, I've seen domain names w/
2 totally different sets of DNS servers.

A freak of domain name nature, of course.

I actually do this sometimes on purpose, it gives me a different use for the round robin effect.

 

[AdoptableDomains]

to furhter clairify, many individuals who run their own nameserver have only one. Therefore a second name server would not have the name. There is a whole market of backup nameserver services, for example http://www.backupdns.com/index.html?source=google.

 

[theparrot]

You can also usually swap secondary service with someone. It is really against specs to have both nameservers on the same host, or even on the same subnet. I usually put one on each coast. One good check for a web host is to make sure they do not have both nane servers on the same subnet. It is a sure sign of an operation that is not too savy.

 

[1rrr1]

damn, and i thought that you could redirect the traffic whenever the server was down...

 

[theparrot]

you can, you use a watchdog, and a short TTL and dynamic updates to do it.

 

[redhippo]

you can, you use a watchdog, and a short TTL and dynamic updates to do it.

O parrot, please explain further...this what i am toying with! but dont know how to do it

 

[Anthony]

What is the advantage of having more than ns1 and ns2 for one's site?

 

[sibaong]

If the nameservers as set up to spec, and the server with your cpanel login is up, then you are wrong.

ups, ic... thanks

 

[Michau]

so that when the first/second server is down, the third/fourth becomes the backup??

No, because nameservers have no prorities assigned, so you don't know which ones are first and which ones are second. Yes, I know that you input them in an order, but the browser will pick one of them randomly and you basically don't know which one.

You could probably use dynamic DNS instead. If your site goes down, some external script would change the IP on the dynamic DNS server. But wthis would require another server and some work.

 

[smashface]

You can also usually swap secondary service with someone. It is really against specs to have both nameservers on the same host, or even on the same subnet. I usually put one on each coast. One good check for a web host is to make sure they do not have both nane servers on the same subnet. It is a sure sign of an operation that is not too savy.

This is a good method. It is common and better to have two different networks providing DNS, but as others have alluded Cpanel may have issues.