2 name servers or 4 name servers?

stoli_sambuca · 09-10-2006, 12:40 AM

Register.com dropped the ball by taking its name servers offline this weekend. 4 of my domains went offline for a couple of hours as a result. Name servers are up now, but I had a minor problem again a couple of hours ago. Maybe it'll take the next 24 hours or so for Register.com to completely fix the problem.

I don't want to suffer from the same problem again, so I'm thinking about adding name servers. In specific, I'm thinking about adding 2 name servers that my host company hosts; I'm currently using 2 that Register.com hosts. So, I'll have 4 name servers all in all. Is this a good idea or I should just keep 2 name servers?

firestorm · 09-12-2006, 08:34 PM

I don't really know the effects of having 4, but I only have 2 on all of mine. Had 4 for a while, but didn't need it, so I went back to 2 the next week.

limainfinita · 12-26-2006, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stoli_sambuca

Register.com dropped the ball by taking its name servers offline this weekend. 4 of my domains went offline for a couple of hours as a result. Name servers are up now, but I had a minor problem again a couple of hours ago. Maybe it'll take the next 24 hours or so for Register.com to completely fix the problem.

I don't want to suffer from the same problem again, so I'm thinking about adding name servers. In specific, I'm thinking about adding 2 name servers that my host company hosts; I'm currently using 2 that Register.com hosts. So, I'll have 4 name servers all in all. Is this a good idea or I should just keep 2 name servers?

Month ago I had the same idea: adding 2 more nameservers and avoid this kind of problems
Now, I dont know if this is possible.

An y of you have domain pointed to 4 nameservers?

**Lyte** · 12-26-2006, 12:51 PM

I never had more than two. I don't see how it could hurt to have four set up.

Question... if the first two go down from the registar (for example) won't there still be a lag time for the next two to kick on?? Or, are they all working at the same time??

Lyte

OulZac · 12-26-2006, 05:33 PM

There is no bennfit, as only one pair can be used at any given time.
So set one is used (cached) for a given time set, and then it rolls to the second set to be used (cached). so if set one is being used, and it goes offline, the site will still be offline until the cache for ISP blocks are updated to switch to the second set.

firestorm · 12-26-2006, 06:35 PM

i guess u can keep them there just so u know what they are, but oulzac's right

limainfinita · 12-26-2006, 07:16 PM

In sumary:
My site can has 4 dns server but just 2 first servers will work ok?
so no matter if your domain has 3, 4, 6, 10 dns servers. yur domain works with the 2 first servers right?

OulZac · 12-26-2006, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by limainfinita

In sumary:
My site can has 4 dns server but just 2 first servers will work ok?
so no matter if your domain has 3, 4, 6, 10 dns servers. yur domain works with the 2 first servers right?

Let say you have 6 nameservers, 3 sets:
ns1.host.com
ns2.host.com

ns3.personal.com
ns4.personal.com

ns5.register.com
ns6.register.com

if they all have the same IP sets:
ns1.host.com - 111.11.222.23
ns2.host.com - 111.11.222.24

ns3.personal.com - 111.11.222.23
ns4.personal.com - 111.11.222.24

ns5.register.com - 111.11.222.23
ns6.register.com - 111.11.222.24

(or even IPs that point to the same dns server or server)
Then it does not matter at all, if one set goes down, it will eventually start working from the other set, it may take 12-24 hours, but it will eventually start working.

so the first set is used first, you go to your site, your browsers trys to access your domain, its directed to your isp cache, your isp cache is told by your register that nameserver set 1 is what is to be used to find the domain online.
you then see your site. Then 20 minutes later the domain for that nameserver set expires. you will not be able to see your site until your isps cache is updated by the register saying use set 2 now, this could be hours.

now if they are differnat nameservers:
ns1.host.com
ns2.host.com

ns1.host2.com
ns2.host2.com

and they are differant servers, your site will work only parts of the time.
some people try to do this double host nameservers idea, but it will never work. if one server is down, so is your domain until cache is updated and the nameservers are changed.

crafterz · 12-26-2006, 08:16 PM

Yeah, the only advantage is the ability that when one or two are down, you can switch to the other ones.

limainfinita · 12-27-2006, 02:09 AM

Ok I have a question:
If my site is hosted at AHOST COMPANY
and my 2 first dns are: dn1.ahost.com
dn2.ahost.com

and I have another host account at: BHOST COMPANY
BHOST COMPANY provided : ns1.bhost.com
ns2.bhost.com
Btw same file are hosted in both hosting companies.

my domain has those dns:
1)dn1.ahost.com
2)dn2.ahost.com
3)ns1.bhost.com
4)ns2.bhost.com

Now ahost.com was hacked and servers are down

?) my sites will be down?
or will be up because has 2dns which still working at bhost.com?

bbalegere · 12-27-2006, 02:54 AM

Go to internic.net and do a namserver lookup.
You will get the server ip addresses.
Using those maybe you can access the site directly.

OulZac · 12-27-2006, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by limainfinita

Ok I have a question:
If my site is hosted at AHOST COMPANY
and my 2 first dns are: dn1.ahost.com
dn2.ahost.com

and I have another host account at: BHOST COMPANY
BHOST COMPANY provided : ns1.bhost.com
ns2.bhost.com
Btw same file are hosted in both hosting companies.

my domain has those dns:
1)dn1.ahost.com
2)dn2.ahost.com
3)ns1.bhost.com
4)ns2.bhost.com

Now ahost.com was hacked and servers are down

?) my sites will be down?
or will be up because has 2dns which still working at bhost.com?

The second set of nameservers would take hours to start working, so your site would still be down for more than likely a full day before the other ones were used. Then while the other server is still down, if its down for more than 24 hours, the nameservers will switch back, and your site will be down again.

Its never a good idea to use more than one set of nameservers.

limainfinita · 12-27-2006, 04:25 PM

ok, now is pretty clear for me.
Was a crazy idea I think has more than 2 sets of dns server.
Now I have to look a good hosting company

cheapquality · 12-28-2006, 12:50 PM

its my personal experiance those hosting are offering 2 ns, they setup fast and they are fast cachy.

Noner · 12-28-2006, 07:12 PM

I never use more than 2 dns server. I use 1 and 2. I don't understand why you should use more dns servers. 2 are very fast and cachy, like cheapquality said. 2 is also enough for all domain hosting companes, so no need for more I think.