I have 5 static IPs, and I already have a domain registered with Network Solutions, just no easy way to propogate it. SWBell wants $100 to propogate it, and I am inexperienced with this and would like to know what my other options are. One option suggested to me is to set up a home DNS server.
Does anyone have some suggestions, experience, tips, or tricks on setting up a DNS server on your home servers? Or suggestions for a cheaper way I can propogate my domain name?
So, you enjoyed working with Southwest Bell so much that you’re thinking about paying them a hundred bucks to smack you around some more?
Hm, S&M…never been into that, myself…
[sub]my advice is to keep looking[/sub]
You have a lot of options for running DNS, but specifics depend on your platform. The obvious solution is BIND, but you’ll want to commit to spending the time to stay on top of the admin because there is a long history of exploits.
Who is providing your bandwidth and static IPs? SWBell? It seems silly for them to charge you for an entry in their routing table. Most ISPs will charge extra for static IPs because this is a limited resource, but once you’ve got the IPs it seems petty to charge extra to add a DNS entry for them. You might shop around for a more reasonable provider.
It is SWBell, and their service is good overall (or, at least it’s been good with the static IPs), and I have no competing options. 
I haven’t done this on my network, but my work friend has a very similar setup to me (and you - PacBell, 5 fixed IPs, home LAN…) In fact, I think PacBell is even the same company as SWBell.
He started off with his own DNS server and then paid PacBell the $100 to enter his domain in their tables.
My impression is that you can do it with your own name server, just update your domain record at NetworkSolutions.com or wherever you’ve registered it to point at your name server. Bonus points if you find someone else in the same situation to be your backup name server, and you theirs.
The only problem is that reverse lookup won’t work - i.e. if someone asks for “foo.douglips.com” they’ll get through, but once they find that foo’s IP address is 1.2.3.4, if they then try to lookup 1.2.3.4 they’ll get DSL-1.2.3.4.whereveryoulive.swbell.net . This can pose problems for some services where they expect you to have the same name coming and going, but for the most part it should be OK.
For the extra $100, the reverse lookup will also work for you, sot that when they lookup 1.2.3.4 they’ll get “foo.douglips.com”.
At anyrate, there should be no harm in trying it - if you do give in and mail SWBell their $100, but your IPs don’t change it shouldn’t matter, both DNS servers will give the correct address. So, when any propagation is done you can take your DNS server offline and be happy.
A home DNS server would work fine (BIND, MS DNS server, what have you). It’s the way I do things on my own mini-network at home; I like having easy access to the DNS service in case I want to make any changes. Like douglips said, though, using a home DNS server will cause reverse lookups to fail. To get those to work, changes need to be made on the SWBell DNS servers. This may or may not be important to you, depending on what you want to do with your registered domain.
An alternative to paying DNS hosting fees is to use a free Public DNS service, such as the one found at http://www.granitecanyon.com/ . A friend of mine uses this service and has had no complaints about it.
Some good suggestions, thanks guys!
I use granitecanyon for a couple of my domains …
works great! they had an off spell a couple of months ago but I have been using them for well over a year now and have had only very minor issues …
Uhhh…maybe I’m stupid, but I’ll be damned if I can figure out what I’m supposed to do at that site. It sure looks promising, but I cannot figure out how to map my IPs to my pre-registered domain that I bought from Network Solutions. A little help…? 