hostname: naic.nasa.gov
filename: files/general_info/nameserver.txt
updated:  9/93 (AM)


         *****    SETTING UP NAMESERVICE ON YOUR MACHINE    *****
                (Last modified $Date: 92/02/12 14:02:56 $)



Here are the basic steps you need in order to make use of the Domain Name
Service (DNS) on UNIX workstations.

	I.   Decide What Kind of Name Service you want to use.
	II.  Configure your system to use the kind of server you chose
	     in step I.
        III. Test things out.
        IV.  Misc.

Step I. Part A - Types of Servers
       
	You have 2 choices of servers that you may use.
	    (1) Remote Name Server
	    (2) A Caching Name Server

        Using a Remote Server (1) is by far the easiest.  In this case you 
	don't even have to run the nameserver (named).  A file called
	/etc/resolv.conf is created and this tells the resolver routines 
	where to get information.  The disadvantage is that none of the 
	information is cached.  The advantage is that there is no system 
	administration needed other than to obtain or create the 
	/etc/resolv.conf file.

	A caching server (2) is a server that is actually run on YOUR machine.
	A cache is kept so that names to frequently accessed machines resolve
	more quickly. 


Step II.  Setting up a Name Server

        REMOTE NAME SERVER

	1. Get pub/resolv.conf via anonymous ftp on dftsrv.gsfc.nasa.gov
	   (128.183.10.134).

	CACHING NAME SERVER

	1. Get pub/nameserver/caching/named.ca via anonymous ftp on 
	   dftsrv.gsfc.nasa.gov (128.183.10.134).
	2. Get pub/nameserver/caching/named.boot via anonymous ftp on 
	   dftsrv.gsfc.nasa.gov (128.183.10.134).
        3. Modify startup script to execute `named' when the system boots.
	       `named' = /etc/named on many BSD systems.
	       `named' = /usr/etc/in.named on SunOS systems.
	4. Invoke `named' by hand.

        ALIASES

	1. the environmental variable HOSTALIASES may be set to allow users
	   to use hostname aliases.  This may be done on a per user basis
	   or you may have all users set this in a system wide startup
	   file (.cshcr, .profile).
	
	2. The format for the HOSTALIASES file is a list of alias seperated
	   by a space and then the fully qualified domain name.

		     silly-putty dftsrv.gsfc.nasa.gov
		     tonka dftsun4.gsfc.nasa.gov
		     slinky dftspc1.gsfc.nasa.gov

Step III.  Test things out

	2. Try the `nslookup' command.
	3. Try the `telnet' command
	4. Try the `rlogin' command
	5. Send some mail and make sure it gets delivered.


Step IV.  Misc. (but Important)

    Sun Users take note.

	SunOS 3.5

	     Send mail to rdunbar@dftsrv

	SunOS 4.0.*
	    
             You need to obtain the appropriate shared library from 
	     dftsrv.gsfc.nasa.gov (128.183.10.134) and a note on how
	     to install a new shared library.  They are compressed
	     files that you will have to uncompress before installing.

	     They are:
		  pub/sun-fixes/libc_resolv.so.sun3.Z     (sun3 shared library)
		  pub/sun-fixes/libc_resolv.so.sun4.Z     (sun4 shared library)
		  pub/sun-fixes/lib.msg                   (help file)

	SunOS 4.1
		  pub/sun-fixes/gsfc/SunOS4.1-libc_resolv.so.sun3.Z (sun 3)
		  pub/sun-fixes/gsfc/SunOS4.1-libc_resolv.so.sun4.Z (sun 4)
		  pub/sun-fixes/gsfc/lib.msg			(help file)


	SunOS 4.1.1

		  pub/sun-fixes/gsfc/SunOS4.1.1-libc.so.sun3.Z	(sun 3)
		  pub/sun-fixes/gsfc/SunOS4.1.1-libc.so.sun4.Z  (sun 4)
		  pub/sun-fixes/gsfc/lib.msg			(help file)




