Install - DNS Issues...

[elementsofway]

I'm trying to install on Ubuntu 6.10 and am stuck with a DNS error.

Setting defaults...No results returned for A lookup of mail.elementsofway.com
Checked nameservers:
        192.168.1.254
        192.168.1.254


DNS ERROR resolving mail.elementsofway.com
It is suggested that the hostname be resolveable via DNS
Change hostname [Yes]

When I ping mail.elementsofway.com or elementsofway.com, I get:

PING mail.elementsofway.com (192.168.1.90) 56(84) bytes of data.
64 bytes from mail.elementsofway.com (192.168.1.90): icmp_seq=1 ttl=63 time=3.38 ms

which is the IP address of my machine.


However when I dig mail.elementsofway.com, I get...

;; AUTHORITY SECTION:
elementsofway.com.      2560    IN      SOA     ns1.discountasp.net. hostmaster.discountasp.net. 1175575127 16384 2048 1048576 2560

which doesn't seem correct.


My /etc/hosts file is:

127.0.0.1       localhost.localdomain   localhost
192.168.1.90    mail.elementsofway.com  mail
192.168.1.90    elementsofway.com

# 127.0.1.1     paul-desktop

# The following lines are desirable for IPv6 capable hosts
::1 ip6-localhost ip6-loopback
fe00::0 ip6-localnet
ff00::0 ip6-mcastprefix
ff02::1 ip6-allnodes
ff02::2 ip6-allrouters
ff02::3 ip6-allhosts

I'm relatively new to linux, so it's probably simple. Any help would be great!

Thanks

[phoenix]

You've done everything except check for the error that was listed:

Setting defaults...No results returned for A lookup of mail.elementsofway.com

You need a DNS A record. Please search the forums as this has been covered many times.

[elementsofway]

phoenix thanks for going to so much trouble... You certainly got my vote for employee of the month!

Yes, I've already searched through the forum and I found a whole bunch of answers like you provided. I also found the Wiki and the DNS in a nutshell; however, I still am missing something. (I've provided the links just in case someone stumbles upon this thread; since my situation is so common)

I'm running off of Ubuntu 6.10 and using this installation guide.

Here is my /etc/bind/named.conf file:

// This is the primary configuration file for the BIND DNS server named.
//
// Please read /usr/share/doc/bind9/README.Debian.gz for information on the 
// structure of BIND configuration files in Debian, *BEFORE* you customize 
// this configuration file.
//
// If you are just adding zones, please do that in /etc/bind/named.conf.local

include "/etc/bind/named.conf.options";

// prime the server with knowledge of the root servers
zone "." {
	type hint;
	file "/etc/bind/db.root";
};

// be authoritative for the localhost forward and reverse zones, and for
// broadcast zones as per RFC 1912

zone "localhost" {
	type master;
	file "/etc/bind/db.local";
};

zone "127.in-addr.arpa" {
	type master;
	file "/etc/bind/db.127";
};

zone "0.in-addr.arpa" {
	type master;
	file "/etc/bind/db.0";
};

zone "255.in-addr.arpa" {
	type master;
	file "/etc/bind/db.255";
};

// zone "com" { type delegation-only; };
// zone "net" { type delegation-only; };

// From the release notes:
//  Because many of our users are uncomfortable receiving undelegated answers
//  from root or top level domains, other than a few for whom that behaviour
//  has been trusted and expected for quite some length of time, we have now
//  introduced the "root-delegations-only" feature which applies delegation-only
//  logic to all top level domains, and to the root domain.  An exception list
//  should be specified, including "MUSEUM" and "DE", and any other top level
//  domains from whom undelegated responses are expected and trusted.
// root-delegation-only exclude { "DE"; "MUSEUM"; };

include "/etc/bind/named.conf.local";

Here is my /etc/bind/named.conf.local file:

//
// Do any local configuration here
//

// Consider adding the 1918 zones here, if they are not used in your
// organization
//include "/etc/bind/zones.rfc1918";
// /etc/bind/zones/rev.192.168.1.90.in-addr.arpa";


zone "elementsofway.com" {
        type master;
        file "/etc/bind/zones/elementsofway.com.db";
};

zone "1.168.192.in-addr.arpa" {
        type master;
	notify no;
        file "reverse/192.168.1"; 
};

[jholder]

elementsofway-

thanks for going to so much trouble... You certainly got my vote for employee of the month!

Don't do that. I don't like it.

There's a reason Phoenix has so many posts. .25 of all of them are answering your question. Be nice.

He, is by far, an expert on this subject. Trust me.

What does host `hostname` return?

[phoenix]

Originally Posted by elementsofway

phoenix thanks for going to so much trouble... You certainly got my vote for employee of the month!

Ah, sarcasm.

I was actually being serious. You have an A record missing and you've posted everything that wasn't to do with that error. You didn't say that you had already searched the forums, the answer is in there. Whether I have posted that remark before, or not, it irrelevant. It's a waste of time to keep posting the same information time after time when it's already in the forums.

Now, you've posted more information. Are we to take it that you've resolved the problem or not? There's no indication of whether you have any A or MX records, do you? Have you looked at some of the things you can do to debug this problem such as a 'dig yourdomain.com any'?

[elementsofway]

My problem still exists...

hostname returns mail.elementsofway.com
ping mail.elementsofway.com returns 192.168.1.90

but when I dig mail.elementsofway.com, I do not get 192.168.1.90 (It's still the same from the first post eventhough I have modified the bind files).

As far as the A record, I do not (or cannot find) the /var/named/data directory...
So, drop that in the domain.com file in /var/named/data (or /var/named/chroot/var/named/data, depending). <-- from DNS in a nutshell


Is it possible that I do not have something additionally needed installed? I did not have to stop postfix during the installation guide

---------------------------------------------

I'm not trying to be a jerk, I just don't like arrogance. If the problem is mentioned in the forums too frequently then I think two things could resolve that. The first is to have a canned response like:

This is a common problem when trying to install Zimbra for the first time. This DNS in a Nutshell wiki may be of some help. Let us know how that works.

The second thing would be to modify/update the guide. It may already seem sufficient, but if these DNS posts are so common I would assume more instructions are needed.

Granted I'm not trying to tell you guys how you should support potential customers. In fact I wouldn't use that particular canned response, but that isn't the point. I'm just trying to install the test system at home to evaluate the Zimbra product vs. Exchange and having my first interaction with support be "It's a DNS problem, search the forum" doesn't make me feel comfortable when my post's title is "Install - DNS Issue".

I also understand that once we purchase the professional edition our support will probably be better. I've also already looked at the demo and it is very nice.

[phoenix]

Right, let's get this out of the way first. My initial post to you wasn't meant to sound arrogant nor was I saying that you were a 'jerk' and I'm sorry if that offended you. I don't like sarcastic responses, I've already told you that it was meant to be a pointer to where the answer was. As I mentioned, you posted everything but the fact you had an A record problem with no details of what you had tried, nor the fact you had searched - I'm not a mind reader. Do you actually think I post the 'search the forums' just to be rude or arrogant, I post it because the answer (based on your post) is more than likely there and it's a waste of time posting the same information over and over again. Pointing out the fact I've posted that response on several other occasions might give you a clue that the resolution was with reach.

Your support will be good whether you use the forums or get support directly from Zimbra and whether you pay fro the product or use the OSS verion. As you seem to have a problem with me replying, I'll leave someone else to answer your problem.

So, drop that in the domain.com file in /var/named/data (or /var/named/chroot/var/named/data, depending).

If you have BIND installed that directory should exist on your system, you may have to check where it is on your operating system as it may not be in that location.

[elementsofway]

I didn't think you were calling me a jerk, I'm calling myself a jerk for the sarcastic comment.

As you seem to have a problem with me replying, I'll leave someone else to answer your problem.

I don't have a problem with you and I in no way intended to say that the level of support, meaning the person helping would improve. I can now see how my comment could be misinterpreted and I apologize. I simply meant more hand holding would occur.

Regardless of whether you or someone else works with me on this, I feel it necessary to move on from this. Thanks for your help thus far; I will look for the bind directory and post all that I can.

[elementsofway]

Here are my bind files...

/etc/bind/zones/elementsofway.com.db

@ IN SOA ns.elementsofway.com. admin.elementsofway.com. (

                        200608081       ; serial, todays date + todays serial #
                        8H              ; refresh, seconds
                        2H              ; retry, seconds
                        4W              ; expire, seconds
                        1D )            ; minimum, seconds
;
                NS      ns              ; Inet Address of name server
                MX      10 mail         ; Primary Mail Exchanger
;
ns              A       192.168.1.90
www             CNAME   www.elementsofway.com.
ftp             CNAME   ns
gw              A       192.168.1.254
                TXT     "Network gateway"
mail            A       192.168.1.90

/etc/bind/zones/rev.192.168.1.90.in-addr.arpa

@ IN SOA ns1.elementsofway.com. admin.elementsofway.com. (
2006081401;
28800;
604800;
604800;
86400 );

IN NS ns1.elementsofway.com.
90 IN PTR elementsofway.com.

[phoenix]

Your records should be in this format:

                                  MX      10 mail.elementsofway.com.
mail.elementsofway.com            A       192.168.1.90