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I want to use my internet connection to host two personal websites (two different domains). I would also like to host mail for these domains.

This requires hosting my own name server. In the nameservers configuration section on my registrar's website, it requires two name servers. Probably for reliability?

I have previously used zoneedit.com, and they provided me with two nameservers but I would like to host it myself, save myself some coin, and learn how to configure bind for experience.

I only have one internet connection, and only have the ability to host one nameserver. What are you supposed to do with the second name server?

mrdenny
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7 Answers7

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The requirement to run two nameservers comes from §4.1 of RFC 1034, and is indeed for redundancy.

There are numerous providers who will offer you very cheap "secondary DNS" service where they transfer the zone file from your primary server using AXFR. For example, in the UK we have a well-known provider who'll do secondary service for 50 domains for just £2.30 a month (just over 3 bucks).

This will give you the ability to manage and run the zone yourself, but still give you the resiliency you need.

Community
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Alnitak
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The conventional wisdom is to have two nameservers for redundancy. Ideally, this keeps downstream name servers pointed in the right place even if, say, your colo is unreachable. If you are hosting these websites from your home, your weak link will probably be your connection or power, not the machines themselves (assuming you are using servers, and not repurposed desktops). Also, since you are hosting from your home, I'm assuming that high availability is not a requirement.

However, you need to make absolutely sure that you have a static IP address, as you will not be able to register a dynamic IP with the root servers. This means that, if your IP changes, they will be pointing everyone to the wrong place to look for the correct IP for your machines.

Ben Doom
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I have been using EveryDNS for my primary host. My domain is not setup this way, but they do offer secondary service for free. This would allow you to get a redundant nameserver on a different network and still setup BIND on your own.

Alex
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Many times your domain registar will also offer DNS services included with the DNS registeration. So the domains I have registered at GoDaddy and Network solutions both use their DNS and it doesn't cost any extra.

SpaceManSpiff
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XName provides free DNS hosting. You would be able to use any one of their name servers for your secondary server.

Ed.
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DNS requires a MINIMUM of two servers. You can have as many as 13 unique IP addresses with DNS servers for your domains, and if you run an anycast network, you can put hundreds of DNS servers behind each address.

But for a small site it is best to start with two DNS servers on two differen networks, and work up from there.

If you go to Google and use the search string "secondary dns" free you will find a number of organizations offering free secondary or backup DNS. They may also want you to provide free secondary DNS for them, kind of you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours.

It is a good idea to find three or more such arrangements because circumstances change over time.

Michael Dillon
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Plenty of domain registrars do NOT require 2 DNS servers (last I checked - for example NameBargain.com). So if your registrar requires this, shop around.

If you have a static IP address, and you are going to host everything (web, DNS, etc.) on the same single IP address / connection/ box anyway, then the RFC requirement for two DNS servers is really overkill. If your server or connection goes down, then it really doesn't matter that you have a functional DNS server somewhere else.

Jesper
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