[Pdns-users] PDNS Newbie Config File Questions

[SashaB]

Ken,

Thank you for sharing but, after about a week of figuring out the answer to
my question by researching and trial and error, I realize it's not the DNS
specs generally, I'm having difficulty with; it's the documentation that
relates to the way PDNS works technically. I'd like more in depth
explanation and understanding of how PDNS does DNS since it is what makes it
so unique. What I am asking is how YOU and others have maximized PDNS' use
and how each of the configuration options affects my overall DNS resolution.

For example:

1) Does PDNS have its own version of a hints file?
2) Does PDNS have a text-based zone file for each domain that can be edited
directly or is there some other way I can edit my zone files so content is
servered in a particular way? The recursor.conf file seems to indicate PDNS
does in its "auth-zones" section. Where are these files?
3) Are there pdns files on my server, similar to, say, my.cnf, php.ini or
httpd.conf that I can read to see if my SOA data is correct for my domains
and edit them if they don't work?
4) Why does PDNS-recursor give the following error when, after checking it's
status and finding it down, I run "service pdns-recursor monitor" -->
"Exception: Trying to set unexisting parameter 'control-console'" when there
is no "control console" setting in recursor.conf and the one in pdns.conf is
commented out on this server? This is only happening on one server. The
other three work just fine.
5) Fancy records can be used in PDNS but am I correct that the software
doesn't really support them?

It's questiosn like THESE I have, not about DNS, generally.

As you well know, all DNS software works differently and PDNS, significantly
so. Thus, I'm asking all of you who are willing to please share what you've
learned that makes PDNS work best and what will 'break' it wnen it won't
break bind. Thanks.

Sasha

On Mon, Jun 22, 2009 at 3:03 PM, Kenneth Marshall <ktm at rice.edu> wrote:

> On Mon, Jun 22, 2009 at 02:46:59PM -0400, SashaB wrote:
> > Hello All,
> >
> > Would you kindly provide your expertise on the following?
> >
> > 1) What are the most important features/configuration options to
> > enable/configure in PDNS before using it and how best are these
> > configuration options done?
> >
> > 2) Is there a 'newbie' intro to PDNS that clearly and comprehensively
> > explains how best to use PDNS? The online manual for PDNS presumes, IMO,
> one
> > know much more about the software than those who've never used it--and
> only
> > configured DNS on preconfigured servers with BIND installed, would know.
> >
> > 3) What have you learned about PDNS that you wished you had known when
> you
> > first started using it that you think I should know, avoid, enable,
> > configure, etc.?
> >
> > I look forward to your solutions-oriented answers.
> >
> > Thank you.
> >
> > Sasha
>
> Dear Sasha,
>
> Please read through the well written PDNS documentation. You
> will need to focus on the information specific to your host
> OS and database backend choice. Most of the other settings
> described in the manual have a reasonable default and can be
> ignored by a novice.
>
> Problems in general experienced by beginning PDNS users
> involve a lack of understanding of the actual DNS spec.
> and how DNS functions, and not so much with particular
> knowledge on PDNS.
>
> Good luck and welcome to the PDNS community.
>
> Ken
>
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