Toplevel domain hosting question?

[Archlyn]

I was wondering, is it possible to register and host your own toplevel domain?

What I mean is, can you go to network solutions (or whichever company now handles domain registration in the US) buy a domain and host it from your own computer?

We all know there are hosting companies out there, but I´ve always felt they were far too limited for my tastes, and I also wanted to learn how to do it myself anyway.

I´ve done basing selfhosting before using services like dyndns.org etc but can an ordinary joe like me host and admin a toplevel domain with a spare linux box and apache?

[scottlc]

Yes but you'd need to find a DNS host. DynDns.org's DNS service costs about $25/y.

[Archlyn]

so you HAVE to use something like that? What do people like microsoft use then?

[scottlc]

They run their own DNS servers.

[FLaRe85]

ZoneEdit will host your DNS for you up to 5 domains for free, then you have to start paying. They also offer some nifty features like mailforwarding, webforwarding, parking, etc.. You can pretty much fully setup your A and MX records, create CNAMEs... The list goes on and on. Upon registering, they'll give you 2 nameservers to point your registrar to.

Edit: Oh yeah! I forgot to mention that they support dynamic updating of the records through tools like DirectUpdate if you're on a dynamic IP.

[Archlyn]

Originally Posted by scott_uk5

They run their own DNS servers.

Doesn't Linux come with a DNS Server? Can't I use that? If not I'll look into Zone Edit.

[Galway no Sora]

What I wanted to know, is there any chance I can get DNS forwarding? I mean, I have domain in Network Solutions, but I want to host it in different retailers. My e-mail will be off if I change that DNS ... any idea?

[RamsusX]

FYI a toplevel domain is something like com, gov, org, etc. Not what you meant I'm sure.

The most commonly used DNS server these days is BIND. This is included with most Linux distributions (and should compile on just about any UNIX OS). Once you set it up for your domain (e.g. ngemu.com), you simply register the domain name with a valid registrar. They'll ask you what the IP address of your DNS server(s) is/are. This will be the IP address of the computer you set up the BIND DNS server on.

If you need help setting up BIND, feel free to ask. I've installed and configured it from scratch before, so I should be able to help. It's a lot better if you can find an easy BIND configuration tool though.

Once the DNS server has been added to ICANN's root DNS servers, DNS requests for your domain will be handled by your DNS server. So you can also set up subdomains, mail servers, whatever.

The only requirement for a computer to be used as a DNS server is that it has a static IP address. Dynamic IPs screw things up big time, so don't even try. If it weren't for this fact, I'd buy my own domain name and have a DNS server of my own set up.

[Archlyn]

That is precicely what I meant, actually. although I was under the erronous assumption that when you purchased your domain you were given an IP address to go with it. I have a cable connection, so it sounds like Il have to get in touch with the ISP and see if they offer static IPs. I thought this would be cheaper then getting a domain hosting service, but I guess not.