How to create my own nameserver

Get 2 or more Linodes. Install BIND or a similar DNS server software. Go to your domain registrar, and register ns1, ns2, etc. as name servers. Point some domains at your name servers. Add corresponding zones to both of your Linodes. Wait a while, and start testing.

No, you can't hide Linode's name servers unless you run your own name servers.

@hybinet:

you can't hide Linode's name servers unless you run your own name servers
False. You can create glue records with your registrar, and A/AAAA records in the Linode DNS Manager, matching the Linode authoritative nameservers' addresses under your domain, then set your domain's nameservers accordingly.

The Linode DNS Manager doesn't let you remove the default NS record set, so run nsd as a master and create a slave zone if you don't want a mismatch with the registry delegation. I guess this sorta counts as running your own name server, but it doesn't expose your box to public DNS queries (if properly configured).

I'm guessing there's some scary ass logic behind why having the Linode domain as the name servers makes a difference.

It can be useful if you're doing authoritative DNS for lots of domains you don't control. If you switch DNS service providers at some point in the future, you won't have to make all your clients change their nameservers.

Seems like it would be easy (and way more secure, business-wise) to pick a DNS Hosting service and keep all your Name Servers isolated from your Domain Registar's which is isolated from your Hosting service. That way you can rearrange all of those parts without be held hostage by any single source.

@funkytastic:

False. You can create glue records with your registrar, and A/AAAA records in the Linode DNS Manager, matching the Linode authoritative nameservers' addresses under your domain, then set your domain's nameservers accordingly.
Yes, you can do that, but it's dumb, because Linode provides no guarantee that they won't change their nameservers' IPs out from under you.

If you check them regularly (perhaps with an automated script), it's unlikely they'd change all of the IPs before you notice and update your records, but it's still not a great idea.

Thanks for the recommendations guys

If i host my dns with DNS Hosting will it effect my site speed?

for example if I choose the Tokyo server and the DNS hosting is in the states

@mnordhoff:

If you check them regularly (perhaps with an automated script)

Yeah, forgot about that part. A daily cron sends me an email if any of the addresses change. So far the only emails have been for when they added ip6 :)

@mnordhoff:

@funkytastic:

False. You can create glue records with your registrar, and A/AAAA records in the Linode DNS Manager, matching the Linode authoritative nameservers' addresses under your domain, then set your domain's nameservers accordingly.
Yes, you can do that, but it's dumb, because Linode provides no guarantee that they won't change their nameservers' IPs out from under you.

If you check them regularly (perhaps with an automated script), it's unlikely they'd change all of the IPs before you notice and update your records, but it's still not a great idea. I have glue'd mine. Haven't seen it change in a years time or more.