This thread is to discuss the article titled: DNS

/etc/resolv.conf only has effect if the keyword "dns" occurs in the file /etc/nsswitch.conf.

This file is commonly called the "Name Service Switch" and it determines where your system looks for information; for example, you might use NIS or LDAP for hostname/IP address lookups (though I don't recommend it) and not use DNS at all. A common alternative to DNS is the /etc/hosts file, for another example. The NSS determines where the system looks for name data.

How does it works...? I register a domain name by paying them right? for example www.names4ever.com. So i owned that name. I login to their admin control panel and "manage name server" it's showing ns1.abac.com and ns2.abac.com is that my name server? how do "they" know I own that domain and I want it to point to my linux box? how?

If you register a domain name you need to have your own name servers. The servers 'above' know only that your domain exists and which server (servers) should be asked for details. The information that your domain points to a specific IP is kept in your nameservers.
From what you write it looks like the company you buy the domain from allows you to use their nameservers, so they work as yours.

well yeah they let me use their DNS server but I only can put in ns1.abac.com and ns2.abac.com. I couldn't tell them which IP my server is located at... what should I do??

I don't know the administration panel you use, but there should be an option to change default DNS servers (or just add your own as the primary one) and add/modify hostnames. When you have your own machine set as primary DNS you can do everything with your domain.

yea they do have a place for me to put in default DNS. I put in ns1.abac.com and ns2.abac.com that's all I can do with my dns.. is that all I needs to do? and is that all most people can do with their Domain name just to assign their prime DNS.

If you can put name of a server you have BIND or other DNS software running, you can add different hostnames to your domain, create subdomains (so you can have hosts like here.myhome.mydomain.org) and some more things. I don't know a company registering domains that doesn't allow you to have your own primary DNS...To have it you just need a machine with static IP (important) and DNS serve software installed. Of course, you'd need to configure it, but it's not hard and there are tutorials.

Hey,
If your want to make your dns updating easier then setting up your own name server then register with http://www.dyndns.com or something similar... set it up with your domain name and download the dynamic updater to update your ip with the domain name.

Can any one help me how to configure DNS server.

I configured DNS server But I couldnt run it successfully
Can any one giv me a web page which has DNS how to

Maybe this: http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/DNS-HOWTO.html

When I issued the command dig @192.168.0.1 www.oliverroad.selfip.com (registered at dyndns.org) I got all the relevant info except no authorities. Does that mean it's not set up? I have 2 nameserver ip addresses listed on my routers webadmin page. I'm not sure who's they are. Maybe my isp's. I think they're something like 192.168.4.100 and 192.168.8.100.

Yes, it looks as not set up. The nameservers you have are in local space, so they're not accessible outside your local network. It means - not accessible from the Net.

I have installed SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 9 and configured (internal) DNS on it. It works fine. I get reply for dig and host commands.

Now, i have to integrate it with the new Windows 2003 server to install Active Directory on Windows. The problem arises here. Eventhough the Windows and Linux are pinging each other, nslookup command from Windows Server is not resolving the SUSE DNS.

I am very new to Linux. I am doing the above in the test environment, soon i have to do it in the production.

Any suggestions

Thanks a lot in advance