Howto setup your own Internet Nameserver, configure DNS using openSUSE 11.0 - for traveling laptop users

Already earlier I published a mini-howto use your own Nameserver with suse 9.3. With the current openSUSE 11.0 all looks a little different, but nevertheless is actually much easier. You have of course installed the bind package and updated it using YOU ( online update ) to make sure all is current. The using YAST2 control center you do the following steps and chose the listed menu choices below:

1. Network services
2. DNS server
3. The secret of a well running NS is to add NOTHING and make NO changes at all in all the next steps! Just click next each time.
4. Have the DNS start now and when booting
5. Then in your shell test your nameserver by entering for example: dig google.com

The result of your a.m. test using google.com should give you obviously the nameserver data from Google - but the important part is from where did you get the name resolved. At the bottom of your dig google.com results you see lines like:

;; Query time: 545 msec
;; SERVER: 127.0.0.1#53(127.0.0.1)
;; WHEN: Sat Jul 19 05:37:16 2008
;; MSG SIZE rcvd: 148

The nameserver that gave you the name resolving was 127.0.0.1 = your own localhost = success.

Repeat queries may show you potential benefits of using your own nameserver. The initial query time A later query dig google.com may show you ;; Query time: 1 msec. Besides a time saving, you also will enjoy a reduced Internet resource usage if you repeately surf same sites. The main benefit however is to be free and independent of other often failing or incomplete or as happened to me when traveling, data for some domains simply are missing and thus access to certain sites impossible even if the sites are up, existing and running.

Enjoy mobile work and life in freedom. This planet is far too beautiful to be enjoyed in a corporate office environment. Find your own place in paradise and prepare yourself to have the qualifications needed to be of use to others while living in paradise. Learn to grow stronger and learn to use all available resources for the wellbeing of all creation.

Now that you have your own nameserver running - the last point to remember is to add your own 127.0.0.1 as your first NS whenever a nameserver configuration is asked in any configuration.

Love and Bliss

hans