DNS Server for LAN

On my home LAN I have PCs and other devices that I access using their IP
address. I was wondering if I can get around this by setting up a local DNS
Server, in addition to those provided by my ISP? Is this worth the effort?
Are there any articles/write-ups on this subject? I've seen write-up on
setting up DNS Servers but I didn't notice anything on how to integrate it
with the DNS Servers from your ISP.

I run a mixed environment of Linux and WinXP Pro. I'm actually planning on
using a Linksys NSLU2 (w/modified firmware) as my server.

Thanks,
Ray





Ray Little

On Sun, 27 Feb 2005 12:02:08 -0500, Ray Little wrote:

> On my home LAN I have PCs and other devices that I access using their IP
> address. I was wondering if I can get around this by setting up a local DNS
> Server, in addition to those provided by my ISP?

That's one way, yes.

> Is this worth the effort?

That depends...
How many machines are on the lan ? How often do their IP's change, if at
all ?

If there are only a few machines, and their IP's rearly if ever change,
simply adding entries to the hosts file on each machine is easier, and
will work.

> Are there any articles/write-ups on this subject?

The DNS HowTo is probably the best place to start...
http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/DNS-HOWTO.html

> I've seen write-up on
> setting up DNS Servers but I didn't notice anything on how to integrate it
> with the DNS Servers from your ISP.

Do you mean you want to forward requests you can't resolve locally to your
ISP's dns servers ? If so, section 3 from the HowTo describes a
resolving/caching name server. Basically, your clients point to your dns
server. Requests it can't resolve are forwarded to your ISP's servers,
which your server then caches, and replies to your clients with that info.

I'd set that part up up first. Then go on to set up your own "domain"
following the example in section 5 of the HowTo for your local pc's. The
local domain and the caching/forwarding server can be served up from the
same machine.

>
> I run a mixed environment of Linux and WinXP Pro. I'm actually planning
> on using a Linksys NSLU2 (w/modified firmware) as my server.

The modified firmware includes a dns server ? Better find out how full
featured it is, before counting on using it...Given the relatively limited
resources devices like those usually have, the components included don't
always have full functionality...Pretty cool if it does though.

--
- Matt -

Thanks for the HowTo reference.

As far as capabilities are concerned I feel what I'm trying to do is so
limited that it shouldn't matter. There are about 4 devices with IP
addresses and about the same number of computers. Actually, I'm doing it
more for a learning tool than anything else.

The reason I'm investigating using the Linksys NSLU2 is because of its
greater reliability and price. It only uses 1.5watts (not counting the
attached hard disk) and I just don't need another computer laying around if
I can help it. There seems to be quite a group (www.nslu-linux.org) built
around this device and using it like I'm trying to do.

Ray

"Matt Payton" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Sun, 27 Feb 2005 12:02:08 -0500, Ray Little wrote:
>
>> On my home LAN I have PCs and other devices that I access using their IP
>> address. I was wondering if I can get around this by setting up a local
>> DNS
>> Server, in addition to those provided by my ISP?
>
> That's one way, yes.
>
>> Is this worth the effort?
>
> That depends...
> How many machines are on the lan ? How often do their IP's change, if at
> all ?
>
> If there are only a few machines, and their IP's rearly if ever change,
> simply adding entries to the hosts file on each machine is easier, and
> will work.
>
>> Are there any articles/write-ups on this subject?
>
> The DNS HowTo is probably the best place to start...
> http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/DNS-HOWTO.html
>
>> I've seen write-up on
>> setting up DNS Servers but I didn't notice anything on how to integrate
>> it
>> with the DNS Servers from your ISP.
>
> Do you mean you want to forward requests you can't resolve locally to your
> ISP's dns servers ? If so, section 3 from the HowTo describes a
> resolving/caching name server. Basically, your clients point to your dns
> server. Requests it can't resolve are forwarded to your ISP's servers,
> which your server then caches, and replies to your clients with that info.
>
> I'd set that part up up first. Then go on to set up your own "domain"
> following the example in section 5 of the HowTo for your local pc's. The
> local domain and the caching/forwarding server can be served up from the
> same machine.
>
>>
>> I run a mixed environment of Linux and WinXP Pro. I'm actually planning
>> on using a Linksys NSLU2 (w/modified firmware) as my server.
>
> The modified firmware includes a dns server ? Better find out how full
> featured it is, before counting on using it...Given the relatively limited
> resources devices like those usually have, the components included don't
> always have full functionality...Pretty cool if it does though.
>
> --
> - Matt -
>

> On my home LAN I have PCs and other devices that I access using their IP
> address. I was wondering if I can get around this by setting up a local
> DNS
> Server, in addition to those provided by my ISP? Is this worth the
> effort?

Yes, and yes. Have a look at dnsmasq-- it almost certainly does what you
want.

--
To reply by email, change "deadspam.com" to "alumni.utexas.net"

On Sun, 27 Feb 2005 15:32:36 -0500, "Ray Little" <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:


>Actually, I'm doing it
>more for a learning tool than anything else.

That's a very good reason.

The DNS Howto, as mentioned in another post, is a good place to start.
Bind is the most used DNS server, and the howto is quite informative.

Dan

Great. This is exactly what I'm trying to do. Thanks.

"Andrew Schulman" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:dluUd.3581384$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
>
>> On my home LAN I have PCs and other devices that I access using their IP
>> address. I was wondering if I can get around this by setting up a local
>> DNS
>> Server, in addition to those provided by my ISP? Is this worth the
>> effort?
>
> Yes, and yes. Have a look at dnsmasq-- it almost certainly does what you
> want.
>
> --
> To reply by email, change "deadspam.com" to "alumni.utexas.net"
>