DNS Question

[Tim Maestas]

Client machines generally have no concept of whether a given nameserver is 
a master or slave for a zone.  If a client resolver does not query it's 
second (or third) listed DNS server upon a timed out query to it's first 
listed nameserver, then it is broken, and you should open a bug report 
with the vendor.  Whether the box is pingable or not should have no 
bearing.

As far as implications of running multiple masters?  How do you keep the 
data synchronized from one master to the other?   Where is the 
authoritative source of data?  Adding a second master would not make a 
difference in the problem you describe.

If your DNS process does exit, there are methods to restart it, depending 
on what OS you are running.  See nanny.pl in the contrib dir of the BIND 
distribution for restarting on unix.

-Tim

On Tue, 25 Feb 2003, Bruce Embrey wrote:

> Currently I have 5 DNS servers (1 master-BIND 8.3 and 4
> slaves - BIND 9.2). Do you see any implications for running
> 2 masters within the same domain? Client machines have dns
> entries for 1 master and 1 slave. If the dns service stops
> resolving the client machines do not rollover to their
> secondary dns.
> 
> My observations have been as long as the dns server is
> pingable, the client pc will not try to contact their
> secondary dns. If my dns service exits unexpectedly is it
> possible to have it auto restart?
> 
> Bruce Embrey
> 
> Bruce Edward Embrey : VMS Systems Manager
> Campus Email Admin : UNIX / Linux Administrator
> Hood College : embrey at hood.edu : Phone (301)696-3927
>