From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Wed Dec 22 04:14:50 2004 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.FreeBSD.org (mx1.freebsd.org [216.136.204.125]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 6327916A4CE for ; Wed, 22 Dec 2004 04:14:50 +0000 (GMT) Received: from smtp806.mail.sc5.yahoo.com (smtp806.mail.sc5.yahoo.com [66.163.168.185]) by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with SMTP id 358EE43D4C for ; Wed, 22 Dec 2004 04:14:50 +0000 (GMT) (envelope-from gamera@pacbell.net) Received: from unknown (HELO gamerasmog.com) (gamera@pacbell.net@64.173.26.30 with login) by smtp806.mail.sc5.yahoo.com with SMTP; 22 Dec 2004 04:14:49 -0000 Date: Tue, 21 Dec 2004 20:14:44 -0800 From: Joshua Tinnin To: RL Message-ID: <20041222041444.GB10180@gamerasmog.com> References: <20041222035615.GA10180@gamerasmog.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Disposition: inline In-Reply-To: User-Agent: Mutt/1.4.2.1i cc: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Running own servers X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.1 Precedence: list List-Id: User questions List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Wed, 22 Dec 2004 04:14:50 -0000 On Tue, Dec 21, 2004 at 10:59:51PM -0500, RL wrote: > On Tue, 21 Dec 2004 19:56:15 -0800, Joshua Tinnin wrote: > > On Tue, Dec 21, 2004 at 10:24:17PM -0500, RL wrote: > > > Hi. I currently have a cable modem, but I want to (if it's not too > > > pricey) run my own servers including DNS server. My cable provider > > > currently doesn't offer static IPs so I have a dynamic. How would I > > > go about setting up my own DNS? Would I do it through the cable modem? > > > Wouldn't I have to buy an IP block and be the authority for it? I'm a > > > little lost. :) > > > > You will have problems doing this unless you have a static IP. I don't > > think any cable service offers that. You can run a DNS server on an > > internal network in your case. It's also possible to run a dynamic IP > > resolver service, like No-IP's (dns/noip), but that is far from perfect, > > unless you're just doing this for testing. For any real-world purpose, > > you really have to have a static IP and a fully-qualified hostname. I > > have read of people running their own servers for everyday use using > > something like No-IP, but if you're running a mail server, you will most > > likely have to deal with mail being rejected because of blacklisting > > (many ISPs block all major ISPs' dynamic blocks from sending to their > > mail servers to prevent spam), as well as reverse dns problems. It can > > work alright for a small website server setup for fun or testing, or > > something that won't require complicated network protocols. > > I just called my cable modem ISP (adelphia) and they said a static IP > address is $130 per month!!!!!! Forget that! Now what are my other > options? I do have a dynDNS address for my dynamic IP, but I can't run > a DNS server and do reverse DNS with that. :( Well, that's news to me. I guess it was just a matter of time before cable providers started offering static IP. Even so, you're probably best off shopping around a bit, although you most likely won't find anything that's $40/mo., but who knows? One advantage of going with a smaller provider with a good reputation is that your IP won't be blacklisted (or there is much less likelihood of it). One problem with so many people running servers these days is that you don't know who to trust, so whole IP blocks of major ISPs end up being blacklisted, and not just the dynamic blocks, but this is more likely to happen if the ISP is careless about spam. If you're going to go through with it and spend the extra money, make sure to do some research and get a good IP with a reputable company. As for other options, you're kinda stuck with the problems of reverse dns, except if your IP isn't released for a long time, but then you're sort of gambling. Anyway, it's kind of a drag, I remember a time not long ago when static IPs with shell accounts on dialup were cheap, but now that so many people have broadband, you really have to pony up a bit of extra cash to get your IP out of the swamp of IP blocks full of zombied machines. But you can always do some testing on your own to see what would work for you. - jt