Cobalt RaQ: DNS FAQ

What is DNS? Can I use AlwaysOnline.net to do my DNS? How do I provide my own DNS via my RaQ server? What is "IP-less" or "Name-based" Web Hosting? How do I add Web site domains that will use my DNS? (external link - spawns new window) How do I register my Cobalt RaQ DNS server with InterNIC? What is DNS?  The domain name system (DNS) is the way that Internet domain names are located and translated into IP (Internet Protocol) addresses. A domain name is a meaningful and easy-to-remember "handle" for an Internet address. Because maintaining a central list of domain name/IP address correspondences would be impractical, the lists of domain names and IP addresses are distributed throughout the Internet in a hierarchy of authority. InterNIC maintains the master root servers that distribute the current DNS information for the domains under its control. There are a number of "root" DNS servers around the globe dedicated to propagating the DNS data to other DNS servers. For a more in-depth overview of DNS, please see: http://www-europe.cisco.com For the purposes of hosting virtual Web sites, running DNS on your Cobalt RaQ server allows you to specify changes and make updates on your own schedule and verify the status of your domains and settings. Since these servers offer a Web-based interface to basic DNS administration, we highly recommend using the DNS functionality of your Cobalt. Can I use RaqShaq.com to do my DNS?  Yes, in fact, for security and support purposes, we much prefer our Customers us our DNS. For more information on how to configure your own DNS, see the Setup DNS page. What is "IP-less" or "name-based" Web site hosting?  "Name-based" or "IP-less" Web site hosting allows you to host many different UNIQUE websites using only one IP address. You no longer have to pay for additional IP addresses or wait for them to be allocated to you. Name based hosting is COMPLETELY supported and automated on the Cobalt RaQ 2 servers. Apache.org says that the "benefits of using the new virtual host support is a practically unlimited number of servers [domains] on a single machine. Simply sign-up a new domain with InterNic (listing your name server as the primary DNS).  Using your RaQ2 control panel add a new virtual site.  The IP address will automatically be filled in --- if you use an IP address that already has a domain name associated with it, name-based hosting will be used instead. Additional Name-based Web Hosting Information: Apache IP-less Virtual Hosts: http://www.apache.org Apache documentation on Name-Based hosting: http://www.apache.org/docs/vhosts/name-based.html An In-Depth Discussion of Virtual Host Matching: http://www.apache.org/docs/vhosts/details.html How do I register my Cobalt RaQ DNS server with InterNIC?  InterNIC is the current domain name registrar for the most common TLD's (top level domains) such as ".com", ".org", and ".net". Any domains that you register must be enabled to reference the correct DNS server. This allows any computer in the world on the Internet to find the address for your sites. For assistance in registering your Cobalt RaQ DNS server with InterNIC, visit our "Registering Your DNS Server with InterNIC" page.