[HLUG] Test web server

[Paul Stenning]

Thanks, I'll read that when I have time to take it all in!

The main problem with using the hosts file is that we have four PCs on 
the network and will want to add and remove test sites on the server 
periodically, so will need to edit the files on all the PCs.  Not a 
major issue but it would be nicer if it "just worked".

Paul

Andrew Hodgson wrote:
> Paul Stenning wrote:
> 
>> Andrew Hodgson wrote:
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> Best to set up a caching DNS server on the LAN.  
> 
>> Can the Bind DNS that's already on my server be set up do that?
> 
> Yes.  Here is one web page which gives details:
> 
> http://www.ubuntugeek.com/dns-server-setup-using-bind-in-ubuntu.html
> 
> I would rather use root hints and not rely on any ISP DNS server.  Read
> the configuration files carefully and alter to sute.  You may want to
> use domain.local instead of your real domain name if this is a test
> setup.  You would also need then to set the DNS settings in the
> router/TCP/IP properties to look at the Bind server only.  The Bind
> server should look up external names using the root nameservers, if it
> does not have a zone for that domain - eg, www.google.com.  DNS
> configuration using Bind is quite complex and there are several hundred
> topics about it on the net.
> 
> 
>>> Some routers also have
>>> DNS proxy functionality, where you can enter local hostnames into the
>>> router config and they will be resolved to the local IP addresses,
> but
>>> it then forwards everything to the ISP's DNS server.  
> 
>> There doesn't seem to be any options for this in my Netgear DG834G
> router.
> 
> Don't know about router.
> 
> Another couple of thoughts - what is wrong with using the hosts files on
> the Vista PC, there is also a service www.opendns.com, which provides
> local DNS hacks, but I am not a huge fan of the service, but it may do
> what you want - check out the VPN/Intranet lookup feature.
> 
> Andrew.
>