How do I use Linode's nameservers as vanity nameservers?
Linode
Linode Staff
Currently, my client's domains point to nameservers provided by another provider (e.g. ns1.mydomain.com and ns2.mydomain.com).
I would like to use Linode DNS, but so that my clients do not need to update their nameservers, I'd like to setup "vanity nameservers" that point ns1.mydomain.com and ns2.mydomain.com at Linode's nameservers.
Are the "DNS Resolver" IP addresses listed on the Networking tab what I should use for the nameserver IPs? Or should I use the IPs returned by nslookup for ns1.linode.com and ns2.linode.com? Or is this something you do not support at all?
6 Replies
tommydavidson
Linode Staff
For vanity nameservers, you'll want to create A records that point ns[1-x].mydomain.com to the IP addresses returned by nslookup or dig for ns[1-x].linode.com. To obtain the addresses of all five of our nameservers, you can use a command like the following, and create your records accordingly:
$ for x in {1..5}; do dig +short ns"${x}".linode.com; done
162.159.27.72
162.159.24.39
162.159.25.129
162.159.26.99
162.159.24.25
Thanks, that is very helpful! Are the NS records also required for achieving this or are the A records enough?
jcardillo
Linode Staff
Yes I believe you would need to replace your Linode NS records with each of your vanity nameservers in your Linode DNS Manager:
Name Server Subdomain
ns1.yourdomain.com yourdomain.com
ns2.yourdomain.com yourdomain.com
ns3.yourdomain.com yourdomain.com
ns4.yourdomain.com yourdomain.com
ns5.yourdomain.com yourdomain.com
To help avoid the circular dependency this creates (i.e. - since the DNS resolution for ns1.yourdomain.com would first require the resolution of yourdomain.com which in turn returns the authoritative nameservers as ns1 and ns2.yourdomain), you'd also need glue records. These would be set up with your registrar, and they may have specific instructions for doing this already.
Ok, that's what I thought. However, it seems to be impossible to replace/remove the default Linode NS records though. DNS checking websites such as IntoDNS, MXToolbox and DNSChecker seem to take issue with having the Linode NS present if they aren't being used. They also complain about the SOA as it contains the Linode NS, which doesn't seem to be editable either.
As a test I've setup my domains on a DNSMadeEasy trial. With the ability to set the NS and SOA records fully, all errors go away.
jcardillo
Linode Staff
Hmm, that's a great point, which totally slipped my mind while writing that! Yeah, it's not possible to replace/edit the default Linode nameservers. Sorry for any confusion.
DNSMadeEasy sounds like it would be your best option then. I was also searching through some of our prior Community site threads and found that this was recommended by other users, too (though the below is from over ten years ago):
https://www.linode.com/community/questions/2884/custom-nameservers