HELP with DNS bind9 ARIN zones named.conf etc.?

Question

Okay, so I have a job to finish, and I just can't figure out DNS, can't wrap my head around it.

Here's the situation using fictitious PUBLIC routable IP addreses.

Say I have a domain, say it's lizdomain.com
Say I have that registered with godaddy.
Say I want to host it myself on an Ubuntu 7.10 gutsy server. Say I also want that same server to do the DNS, and be the mailserver for this zone:
I know I need the following.
A zone configuration file
an SOA (???!)
proper configuration of a file called named.conf in /etc/bind/ (jailed elsewhere, but that's all working)
a reverse DNS i think ptr file.
other stuff.

So what I'd like to know is.
what files to I need to edit, where do I find them, and what should they look like, how do they talk to the other DNS servers in the world, and basically what would a proper bind9 setup look like for:

lizdomain.com
web server public IP: 99.1.1.99
DNS server same (use loopback here?)
mail server same
machine's hostname is lizserver1

***
Oh yeah, and don;t worry I've already googled until I was googley eyed. I have read a textbook's worth of information on the subject, and I still don;t get it. so links are welcome, but I need the idiots guide here...

Answer 1

Well DNS is complicated but shouldn't be that difficult to get setup.
First I would registrer your DNS servers with GoDaddy also. you have to the dns server also has to be setup with ICANN for it to work SO start with registering your DNS server. It usually is "free" as an addon to your domain. If the server is lizserver1
I would say make your dns name
lizserver1.lizdomain.com its IP is also 99.1.1.99 same as domain. Since you really by technical requirements will need TWO DNS servers, 1 primary and 1 secondary I would say see if GoDaddy offers to host the second one (if not there are some free ones that you can use.)
Second you have to make a zone file in the correct directory.
The contents will look like this.

lizdomain.com.INSOAlizserver1.lizdomain.com.
root.lizserver1.lizdomain.com. (
1999112701 ; Serial number as date and two digit number YYMMDDXX

10800 ; Refresh in seconds 28800=8H

3600 ; Retry in seconds 7200=2H

604800 ; Expire 3600000=1 week

86400 ) ; Minimum TTL 86400=24Hours

lizdomain.com. INNSlizserver1.lizdomain.com.

lizdomain.com. IN MX10 mail.lizdomain.com.

lizserver1.lizdomain.com. INA99.1.1.99

mail.lizdomain.com. IN A 99.1.1.99

lizdomain.com. IN A 99.1.1.99

www.lizdomain.com. IN A 99.1.1.99


That is the zone file contents (maybe with some changes to match what you want!) I hate it but you can't make this look right on Answers.. see this one.http://www.tech-recipes.com/bind_and_dns_tips305.html


It really isn't all that difficult to do, but you do have to understand dns and dns records.

Get the Book DNS and BIND... great resouce and helps in understanding what takes place.
Also read this http://www.linuxhelp.net/guides/bind/

OR just have GoDaddy host the DNS for you.. much easier and safer.

Edit: There just isn't enough room here to show you or answer this. DNS is the most complex issue to setting up a web server. You will not be able to do it with the desktop it is a line entry process using command line. If it were me, I would add in a Web Control Panel, like WebCP, or Webmin. to help get this done

Unless like me, you just have to learn it all for yourself. (LONG learning curve.. don't worry the first setup wont work.. the second will be close, the third will work, the fourth will be close, the next on will probably be correct)


Hope that helps.

Merry Christmas and God Bless

Answer 2

Whoa. Ubuntu?
If you couldn't get help from Google, what makes you think anyone will be able to help you here?