4.5 Configuring DNS Features

This section describes the following procedures:

4.5.1 Configuring Roles for Novell DNS Server

Novell DNS servers act in the following roles for a zone:

  • Designated primary server

  • Passive primary server

  • Designated secondary server

  • Passive secondary server

The role played by the server for a zone depends on the zone type. If the zone type is primary, the server acts as a designated primary or a passive primary. All servers that are managing a primary zone act as primary servers for that zone, and among all the primary servers, one server can be assigned as a designated primary server for that zone. All other servers are called passive primary servers.The designated primary server accepts dynamic updates for that zone. All primary servers respond to queries for this zone and notify slave servers of this zone about changes in data that can occur due to dynamic updates or changes by users.

If the zone type is secondary, the server acts either as a designated secondary or a passive secondary. All servers that are managing a secondary zone will act as secondary (or slave) servers for the zone, and among all of the secondary servers, one server can be assigned as a designated secondary server. All other secondary servers are called as passive secondary servers. The designated secondary server is the one who do zone-in transfer for the zone from the master server and writes the data into eDirectory.

To configure a server as a passive primary for a zone, specify the server name in the Authoritative servers field of that zone. Make sure this server name is not in the designated primary field.

To configure a server as designated primary, specify the server name in the authoritative servers field of that zone and select that server name from the designated primary field.

To configure a server as a passive secondary for a zone, specify the server name in the Authoritative servers field of that zone. Make sure this server name is not in the designated secondary field.

To configure a server as designated secondary server, specify the server name in the Authoritative servers field and select that server name in the designated secondary field.

To do this by using the iManager utility, see Viewing or Modifying a Zone Object.

4.5.2 Configuring a DNS Server to Forward Queries to Root Name Servers

When you install NetWare 6.5, the root server information is automatically loaded into your system. No additional steps are required to configure your system to forward queries to the root name servers.

4.5.3 Configuring a DNS Server as a Cache-Only Server

A cache-only server should be located between the clients that require address resolution and any DNS name servers that communicate over the Internet. Configure DNS clients to forward their queries to the cache-only server, and configure the cache-only server to forward its queries to a DNS server (or servers) attached directly to the Internet.

To configure a server to function as a cache-only server, follow the instructions to create a DNS server in Creating a DNS Server Object or Creating a Zone Object. After you create the DNS server object, do not assign it to any zone. Configure this server to forward its queries to a DNS server connected to the Internet. You can do this by specifying the DNS server IP address in the Forwarders option.

4.5.4 Configuring Child (Sub) Zone Support

If you create a child zone, you must configure the glue records to associate the child zones with the parent zone.

The parent zone should contain an NS record for the child zone domain name. If the child zone name server domain name belongs to the parent zone or the child zone, the parent zone should have an A record for that name server domain name.

When configured as described above, queries to the parent zone name server for names within the child zone are returned with the child zone’s referral records. The requester can then query the child zone’s name server directly.

4.5.5 Configuring a Multi-Homed Server

A multi-homed server is a server with more than one IP address. In an Internet environment, a multi-homed server is a single server connected to multiple data links, which might be on different networks.

If you have a DNS server with more than one IP address, and if you have specified one of the IP addresses in the listen-on option of the server, make sure the same IP address is used in the A record for the DNS server domain name.

NOTE:An NS resource record specifies a domain name for an authoritative name server for the specified class and domain.

4.5.6 Configuring Dynamic DNS

Dynamic DNS (DDNS) provides automatic updates of DNS with address and pointer records for addresses and hostnames that are assigned using the DDNS feature. To use DDNS, the following configuration must already exist:

  • The DNS Zone object to receive DHCP updates must be created. For all networks that are served by the DNS server, the DNS zones must have reverse zones configured. For more information on configuring the reverse zones, refer to Creating an IN-ADDR.ARPA Object and Creating an IN-ADDR.ARPA Object.

  • Subnet Address Range objects that use the DDNS must be set to range type Dynamic BOOTP and DHCP or Dynamic DHCP.

To activate the DDNS feature:

  1. Select the Subnet object of the Subnet Address Range on which you want to activate DDNS, then specify a zone in the DNS Zone for Dynamic Update.

  2. Select the desired Subnet Address Range and ensure that the range type is set to Dynamic BOOTP and DHCP or Dynamic DHCP.

  3. Set the DNS update option to Always Update.

  4. Click Save.