Domain Name - Server Settings

Raafi · #1 15th May 2005, 10:10 PM

As I read thru forums, websites and books, I run across "mydomain_name" often.

Also, I am curious about sendmail, so my question is as follows?

I have a single, at-home computer on a cable connection, is it actually possible that I can use my computer for email? What is my domain name? What are my server settings? What is my server address? What are my local servers that I can use?

These issues are also arising on teamspeak and a few other programs, and I have always assumed it was for computers used for servers.

adam · #2 15th May 2005, 10:23 PM

Well, as far as I know, you don't have a real domain (seen worldwide) until you register (buy) one and configure DNS entries for it. So the only way to identify your server machine "from the outside" is your IP address.
Take care

Raafi · #3 15th May 2005, 10:33 PM

Thanks Adam

So by using my IP address, where applicable, I can use it in lieu of a domain name? And whenever I am asked for server settings, server address, etc these things do not apply to me?

rayyes · #4 15th May 2005, 10:33 PM

you could use a free domain from DynDNS.org (not actually a domain, more of a redirect service) along with the rundns program (also available at the dyndns.org site) to have an easier to remember site. ex: XXXX.dyndns.org (URL) vs WWW.XXX.YYY.ZZZ (IP)

Dog-One · #5 15th May 2005, 10:39 PM

You raise an interesting topic Raafi. For my home server I use a non-Internet domain name (server.local). If I want to FTP something from it to one of my LAN machines, I use the URL ftp://server.local/ If someone from the outside (Internet) wanted to access my server by name, server.local wouldn't resolve to an IP address that would be usable. The domain name server.local has no meaning outside of my little DNS server.

Now, I also have a DynDNS account that IS recognized by the Internet name servers (*.dyndns.biz). For accepting incoming email, I use sendmail with an alias so that incoming mail to my Internet domain name isn't dropped on the floor.

Using an approach like I have done with two domain names, gives me the best of both worlds--internal security and external access. For internal use (server.local) resolves to a local private (non routable) IP address. For external Internet access to my server, *.dyndns.biz resolves to the IP address assigned to me by my ISP when I connect to the Internet. Having two domain names, each with their own IP address, eliminates a lot of confusion.

Raafi · #6 15th May 2005, 10:42 PM

As a secondary question (or fifth, i forget), when using sendmail, does that mean I no longer need myname@yahoo.com, or myname@xxx.com, I can now make my computer the xxx?

Sorry for any redundancy, but this is truly amazing to me. So I can have Raafi@raafi.com from my own computer?

Raafi · #7 15th May 2005, 11:12 PM

sorry, my last post was posted before i read your responses

adam · #8 20th May 2005, 07:12 AM

Quote:

you could use a free domain from DynDNS.org (not actually a domain, more of a redirect service) along with the rundns program (also available at the dyndns.org site) to have an easier to remember site. ex: XXXX.dyndns.org (URL) vs WWW.XXX.YYY.ZZZ (IP)

I think the simmilar service is availible at www.no-ip.com