How do I set-up a DNS server?

[007craft]

Hi. I registered my first domain name ever. I also have a simple web page I made and am running IIS in vista, which I have never done before, but have used IIS in xp. Anyway I want to know what I need to do to get my domain working? I assume I need to set-up a DNS server? Or does my register come with this? Basically im lost here. any help?

[nomaansikandar]

You don't need a DNS server.
You need a domain name pointing to your servers IP.

If you don't have a perm IP;

I suggest trying out www.no-ip.org. You can sign up, setup a domain name, install a client on your computer that will monitor and report your IP to no-ip and thus the domain name will always point to your machine.

If you do have perm IP, get a domain name, and point it to your server.

[007craft]

If you do have perm IP, get a domain name, and point it to your server.

Yeah I have a perm IP. I want to know how to point it to my server? I can already connect to my server from the outside by typing my IP.

[siriuskao]

Use a free DNS server
http://www.everydns.com/

More info:

Once you create an account and necessary DNS records, register the DNS servers (nsX.everydns.net) with your domain registrar.

[nomaansikandar]

It has been a few years since I last purchased a domain name, but I'm a little confused. Can't you just make the purchased domain name point to your IP?
Why do you need a DNS server?

EDIT -- OH... I remember. Something has to translate the domain name to the IP address. That record is kept in the name servers. Earlier, I was thinking of it like a DNS server on a LAN ...

Shouldn't you get this from your domain issuer?

[007craft]

thats what I thought too? I registered with godaddy.com. I just have no clue what the hell all those options are. All I know is when people goto www.mydomain.ca I want it to show what I got hosted right now at http://myip

The only option I can understand is forwarding, which is not what I want to do, as I dont want all the sub pages to be displaying as myip/page2. I want them as mydomain/page2.

[nomaansikandar]

It is all clear now ..

http://help.godaddy.com/article/664

If you purchased your domain registration with us but are hosting your domain elsewhere, your hosting company should provide at least two nameservers for you to enter through our Domain Manager. Some hosting companies also provide an IP address for nameservers, but we do not require an IP address.

Since you're hosting the site yourself, you need to come up with the name servers.

[007craft]

ok that makes sense, but how do I create a nameserver in IIS? I had never even heard of a nameserver until I made this post,

[007craft]

oh snap I got it working. I selected custom nameservers and used whatever default it gave me, nr52.nameserver.com or some dumb thing like that. Then below it said enter upto 13 ips. I entered my ip now its working. Man they sure dont make this clear, Im still lost and confused. Good thing im only hosting a personal small page, a big business with real site would just make my mind explode lol.

entering www. in front of my domain is still not working :(

[siriuskao]

oh snap I got it working. I selected custom nameservers and used whatever default it gave me, nr52.nameserver.com or some dumb thing like that. Then below it said enter upto 13 ips. I entered my ip now its working. Man they sure dont make this clear, Im still lost and confused. Good thing im only hosting a personal small page, a big business with real site would just make my mind explode lol.

entering www. in front of my domain is still not working :(

You can create a CNAME record for that (www.yourdomain.com).

oh I still feel setting up your DNS via everydns or zoneedit is a better idea.

[l69norm]

.. I still feel setting up your DNS via everydns or zoneedit is a better idea.

+1. OP, just use one of the free DNS services. It's a lot easier than trying to setup your own DNS server:
http://www.thefreecountry.com/webmaster/freedns.shtml

[007craft]

www. is working now. I guess it just took a while. Still dont understand why I need to use that site your suggestion above when i seem to have it all working without it?

On a side note, is there a site I can use for web hosting for FREE without any ads at all? I would only need like 10mb of webspace and 100mb of bandwidth a month would be enough

[siriuskao]

www. is working now. I guess it just took a while. Still dont understand why I need to use that site your suggestion above when i seem to have it all working without it?


If it's working, good for you. The sites I suggested were answer to your original question - "setting up DNS server". The sites are easy to use & with redundancy - for free.