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Configure Nameservers for Multi Servers

ImperialTrader
I have 3 servers, Which option is better to configure my nameservers for each server? Option 1: VPS 1 >> ns1.s1.domain.com & ns2.s1.domain.com >> 1st server IP VPS 2 >> ns1.s2.domain.com & ns2.s2.domain.com >> 2nd server IP VPS 3 >> ns1.s3.domain.com & ns2.s3.domain.com >> 3rd server IP Option 2: Can I set (ns1.domain.com & ns2.domain.com) for all the servers? If yes, then how can I set the DNS for the 3 server's IPs using the same (ns1 & ns2)?

Comments

27 comments

Date Votes
  • cPanelLauren
    It sounds like you might benefit from a DNS cluster. Using a DNS cluster you could use the same nameservers for each server that is a part of the cluster.
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  • ImperialTrader
    It sounds like you might benefit from a DNS cluster. Using a DNS cluster you could use the same nameservers for each server that is a part of the cluster.
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  • cPanelLauren
    Hello, No it's not the same as a load balancer. A load balancer would balance traffic through to the different webservers, a DNS cluster will only direct DNS requests to the appropriate webserver.
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  • ImperialTrader
    Hello, No it's not the same as a load balancer. A load balancer would balance traffic through to the different webservers, a DNS cluster will only direct DNS requests to the appropriate webserver.

    Thank you. Do you think it's more professional to use DNS cluster and ask my clients to use only one main nameserver (ns1.mydomain .com & ns2) instead of asking them to use (ns1.s1.mydomain .com & ns2) then after (s1) server becomes loaded, I switch to a new server and ask the new clients to use (ns1.s2.mydomain .com & ns2) and so on..
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  • cPanelLauren
    I don't see an issue with either naming scheme. ns1/ns2.mydomain.com may end up being more easily remembered but really that's the only thing I'd point out.
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  • ImperialTrader
    I don't see an issue with either naming scheme. ns1/ns2.mydomain.com may end up being more easily remembered but really that's the only thing I'd point out.

    Okay and what about scaling? When I try to get 2nd, 3rd and 4th server? how can I name their nameservers?
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  • cPanelLauren
    A lot of people use ns3/ns4/ns5 and so on, really it's up to you but you may want to stick with a naming convention such as this to keep things orderly.
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  • ImperialTrader
    A lot of people use ns3/ns4/ns5 and so on, really it's up to you but you may want to stick with a naming convention such as this to keep things orderly.

    Which is better in your mind? 1. To use DNS Cluster and ask all my clients to use One nameserver (ns1/ns2.mydomain.com) 2. To use each server it's own NS (ns1/ns2.s1.mydomain.com), then switch to (ns1/ns2.s2.mydomain.com) and so on..
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  • cPanelLauren
    You might end up with more reliability if you use a DNS cluster properly in my opinion
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  • ImperialTrader
    You might end up with more reliability if you use a DNS cluster properly in my opinion

    Thank you :)
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  • ImperialTrader
    You might end up with more reliability if you use a DNS cluster properly in my opinion

    I just tried it and it works fine, that's what I need exactly :) If you don't mind, could you please review the configuration steps with me? I have 1 master server and many slave servers WHM >> Configuration Cluster >> At the master server, I add all the slave servers and at each slave server, I add the master server only WHM >> DNS Cluster >> Shall I do the same? Now all the websites DNS hosted at the master server will be copied to all the slave servers (Is it correct to do this step?) Also all the websites DNS hosted at the slave servers will be copied to the master server only (Is it correct to do this step?) Do you think this copying of all the websites DNS to all the servers is correct or it will confuse me later? Any other solution?
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  • cPanelLauren
    I'm glad that worked out for you!! I'd suggest using direct links, this is exampled in the documentation I linked as well. Each web server directly links to the nameservers.
    Now all the websites DNS hosted at the master server will be copied to all the slave servers (Is it correct to do this step?)

    If you configure the DNS cluster in the manner I explained, yes you'd copy all DNS information to the nameservers
    Also all the websites DNS hosted at the slave servers will be copied to the master server only (Is it correct to do this step?)

    You wouldn't want to do this - The webservers control the DNS and submit it to the DNS servers where it's hosted - they shouldn't be submitting zones back to the webservers
    Do you think this copying of all the websites DNS to all the servers is correct or it will confuse me later? Any other solution?

    If you're using direct links and just copying data from your webservers to the nameservers there shouldn't be too much confusion or actually much hassle either. When you add a new account cPanel automatically sends the new zone file to the nameservers and when updates to dns zones are made cPanel automatically updates the nameservers as well.
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  • ImperialTrader
    I'd suggest using direct links, this is exampled in the documentation I linked as well. Each web server directly links to the nameservers. If you're using direct links and just copying data from your webservers to the nameservers there shouldn't be too much confusion or actually much hassle either. When you add a new account cPanel automatically sends the new zone file to the nameservers and when updates to dns zones are made cPanel automatically updates the nameservers as well.

    The link you sent me doesn't provide any steps on how to use direct links, it's just explaining what is direct links :)
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  • cPanelLauren
    The diagram in the documentation shows you how to use Direct Links. Webserver1->Nameserver1 Webserver1->Nameserver2 Webserver2->Nameserver1 Webserver2->Nameserver2 And so on. You'd just set the webservers up to synchronize with the nameservers.
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  • ImperialTrader
    The diagram in the documentation shows you how to use Direct Links. Webserver1->Nameserver1 Webserver1->Nameserver2 Webserver2->Nameserver1 Webserver2->Nameserver2 And so on. You'd just set the webservers up to synchronize with the nameservers.

    Can I do that by adding (ns1/ns2.mydomain.com) to all servers at this step (WHM >> Basic WebHost Manager Setup) And I add the master server IP to all the servers too at (Configure Address Records)?
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  • cPanelLauren
    Hello,
    Can I do that by adding (ns1/ns2.mydomain.com) to all servers at this step (WHM >> Basic WebHost Manager Setup)

    This is exactly how you'd do this, along with pointing the domains to the nameservers you've set.
    And I add the master server IP to all the servers too at (Configure Address Records)?

    You wouldn't need to do this with the cluster set up.
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  • ImperialTrader
    You wouldn't need to do this with the cluster set up.

    Tell me please if these steps are correct or not.. WHM >> DNS Cluster >> At the master server, I added the slave server and at the slave server, I did nothing! Result = All the websites hosted on the slave server are down :( WHM >> DNS Cluster >> At the slave server, I added the master server and at the master server, I did nothing! Result = All the websites hosted on the slave server are up :) when I create a new website at master or slave server, the dns is copied to the other server Check this screenshot please (Adding the master server at the slave server)
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  • cPanelLauren
    DNS/Slave servers shouldn't have websites on them this is not the nature of DNS clustering. The DNS servers should be present for DNS zone files only. The webserver should synchronize it's DNS records with the DNS servers but the DNS servers should not need to synchronize the other way.
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  • ImperialTrader
    DNS/Slave servers shouldn't have websites on them this is not the nature of DNS clustering. The DNS servers should be present for DNS zone files only. The webserver should synchronize it's DNS records with the DNS servers but the DNS servers should not need to synchronize the other way.

    I'm sorry but there is a still misunderstanding :( I think I don't have DNS server, all I have is just 3 servers and I need to use one nameserver only for all of them. I just need to know the steps of DNS cluster which will allow me to do that. Each server is holding 100 clients, so I have totally 300 clients What I should do now to allow all my clients to use only one nameserver..
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  • cPanelLauren
    I wouldn't recommend using a DNS cluster for three web servers. I would recommend using a separate server with DNSonly if you'd like to use the same nameserver for all three of them. Clustering webservers can lead to conflicts with DNS records and it is not advised. Furthermore, you would need to assign two nameservers, they can have the same IP address but there must be two.
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  • ImperialTrader
    I wouldn't recommend using a DNS cluster for three web servers. I would recommend using a separate server with DNSonly if you'd like to use the same nameserver for all three of them. Clustering webservers can lead to conflicts with DNS records and it is not advised. Furthermore, you would need to assign two nameservers, they can have the same IP address but there must be two.

    Most of the large hosting companies are having 1000s servers and all their clients are using only this nameservers (ns1 & ns2.theirDomain.com) I just need to do the same, that"s it :)
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  • cPanelLauren
    That is two separate nameservers, not one. This is a common practice and can be set up using a DNS cluster, but you would not cluster just webservers together. You would use a Separate server using DNSOnly with no websites on it (literally DNS zones only) and set your webservers up to cluster with it. The documentation I sent you previously goes over how to set DNS Clustering up properly.
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  • ImperialTrader
    That is two separate nameservers, not one. This is a common practice and can be set up using a DNS cluster, but you would not cluster just webservers together. You would use a Separate server using DNSOnly with no websites on it (literally DNS zones only) and set your webservers up to cluster with it. The documentation I sent you previously goes over how to set DNS Clustering up properly.

    Ok I did that, I linked my 3 servers together using Cluster. I have 100 clients on each server with total of 300 clients. I found that the DNS of the 300 clients have been copied to the 3 servers. Now all my 300 clients are using two primary nameservers only (ns1 & ns2.mydomain.com), and now I could move any client from one server to another without asking my client to change his nameservers. Is that's correct?
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  • cPanelLauren
    Technically, yea you can move them to any of the servers but I'd warn you again that this will cause DNS conflicts and this is not a recommended configuration.
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  • ImperialTrader
    Technically, yea you can move them to any of the servers but I'd warn you again that this will cause DNS conflicts and this is not a recommended configuration.

    I know that, but unfortunately I still don't know what other companies do exactly :(
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  • cPanelLauren
    I explained that to you in my previous response.
    You would use a Separate server using DNSOnly with no websites on it (literally DNS zones only) and set your webservers up to cluster with it. The documentation I sent you previously goes over how to set DNS Clustering up properly.

    You might also want to consult with a qualified system administrator if you're unsure how to implement any of this correctly. If you don't have one, you might find one here: System Administration Services
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  • ImperialTrader
    You might also want to consult with a qualified system administrator if you're unsure how to implement any of this correctly. If you don't have one, you might find one here:
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