Alternative DNS Servers: Choice and Deployment, and Optional SQL/LDAP Back-Ends [Paperback]

Jan-Piet Mens (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 2008

Providing a complete survey of DNS (Domain Name System) servers, this reference outlines the most suitable types of servers for varying scenarios. Addressing performance and security issues, this resource describes in detail the ideal scenarios for each server. Additional topics discussed include how DNS information can be stored in LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) directories or SQL databases as well as how to construct robust DNS systems.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A valuable source of information for every PowerDNS administrator!"  —Norbert Sendetzky, developer, LDAP and OpenDBX back-ends to PowerDNS

"The first book to describe NSD and Unbound in excellent detail."  —NLnet Labs, developer, NSD and Unbound

"Jan-Piet has done a great job describing PowerDNS—I found a few features in this book even I didn't know about!"  —Bert Hubert, principal developer, PowerDNS

"An informative, accurate guide for anyone interested in learning more about DNS."  —Sam Trenholme, developer, MaraDNS

"Finally—a clear, in-depth, and accessible guide to using BIND-DLZ! A must read for anyone considering alternate DNS servers."  —Rob Butler, BIND-DLZ project creator and developer

About the Author

Jan-Piet Mens is an independent consultant specializing in internet technologies.

Product Details

• Paperback: 640 pages
• Publisher: UIT Cambridge Ltd. (December 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0954452992
• ISBN-13: 978-0954452995
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.9 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #115,645 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #68 in Books > Computers & Technology > Operating Systems > Unix
  • #71 in Books > Computers & Technology > Databases > Database Management Systems
  • #73 in Books > Computers & Technology > Networking > Intranets & Extranets

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I loved this book, February 17, 2009

By 

Joseph Topjian (Pittsburgh, PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Alternative DNS Servers: Choice and Deployment, and Optional SQL/LDAP Back-Ends (Paperback)

This book is amazing. Jan-Piet Mens unbiasedly covers every modern authoritative and caching DNS server. This includes MaraDNS, tinydns, PowerDNS, and more that most people have never even heard of. Each server is given its own detailed chapter where you learn what sets it apart from the others and how to use it. But make no mistake, the coverage of each server is far from any simple tutorial or how-to you'd normally read. These chapters are packed with information that Jan could easily expand into small books on their own.

In addition to the several DNS servers covered, the amount of other DNS-related topics in this book is amazing. You'll also learn how to make your own DNS server and utility scripts with Perl, international domain names and how to make them work with your server, DNSSEC, nsswitch, DNS blacklists, and dynamic DNS.

I wouldn't recommend this book to people new to DNS. Instead, try O'Reilly's DNS and BIND or Apress's Pro DNS and BIND -- both are incredible books as well. But if you're familiar with DNS, maintain a DNS server or two, just want to widen your view of the DNS world, you would be a fool not to read this book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "THE" DNS lead for the coming 5-10 years !!, January 12, 2009

By 

Nils Valentin (Tokyo, Japan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alternative DNS Servers: Choice and Deployment, and Optional SQL/LDAP Back-Ends (Paperback)

Coverage:

- 8 Name servers (MaraDNS, MyDNS, PowerDNS, Bind, NSD, tinydns, ldapdns, dnsmasq)

- 5 caching name servers (Bind,PowerDNS,DNSCache, DNSProxy, Unbound)

- many Perl based scenarios

- Load balancing

- A HUGE variety of DNS Backend types (text files, DB, LDAP etc.)

- DNSSEC

- internationalization (i18n)

- OS Coverage of Windows and Linux

- incredible amount of detailed DNS products coverage never seen elsewhere !!

ADS is Mr. Jan Piet's Answer to the variety of DNS servers thats out there. Equipped with roughly 700 pages and a 40p. detailed Index !! he is describing at least 11 !! type of DNS servers.

( more if you count the variations and perl versions).

Regarding OS coverage the author stays in the Windows (Cygwin), Linux area but I think its fair to say that BSD and any *nix type system is not to much different to use.

The author is not just describing the DNS projects but illustrating their strength and weaknesses in countless carefully prepared scenarios.

Wether its the basics of how zones work or other nitty gritty details f.e where you place the caching DNS, how the resolver works or more specific special case scenarios - its all covered.

Once you ran through the preparation part of the book you basically run through a huge variety of case scenarios separated in 24 chapters.

The first 18 describe the DNS products and their usage, the next six describe operational issues (updating issues, internationalization, DNSSEC, Performance, Security etc.)

An 8 chapter strong appendix delivers background on subjects you might require additional help for coverage you might simply not find in any other books. f.e the not so known programming language LUA.

By the time you have worked through the book you will have inherited the equivalent of a bulk of not less than 5-10 years of senior system engineering experience.

I particularly like that the book is obviously well structured. The instructions detail level is thorough, instructive and inspirational at the same time.

The book is not only teaching you how to use the DNS projects, but also how to think outside of the box to enhance them f.e with Perl, scripting etc. to make them fit and work towards your needs.

I have never seen anything like it for the DNS sector within the last 10 years or more, neither in the USA, nor in Europe or Asia.

If your company or profession is closely related to DNS based products or their usage you owe it to yourself to pay close attention to this book.

This book is definitely highly recommended !!