Using Standard Format for DNS Requests
The IP address and domain name request should include the following information and follow a standard format (using a semicolon";" for descriptions and tabs instead of spaces in all but the first line). You can copy and paste this example into your e-mail message to UTnic.
See Choosing a Host Name for guidelines for naming your computers. See UTnic's DNS Naming Conventions for specific requirements for name selection at the University.
$ORIGIN sub-domain-name.utexas.edu.
; Name-of-contact-person telephone office-location e-mail-address
computer-name IN A net-address ; computer-location
IN HINFO "machine-type" "operating-system"
Standard Format Example
An IP address request for each of several computers associated with the cm.utexas.edu domain at the WCH buildings might look like this:
$ORIGIN cm.utexas.edu.
; Responsible-Person 475-9400 WCH 1.114 r.person@mail.utexas.edu
poblano IN A 128.83.134.? ; WCH 1.104
IN HINFO "PowerMac 9600" "Mac OS 8.0"
serrano IN A 128.83.134.? ; WCH 1.114
IN HINFO "Gateway2000 D6" "Windows 2000"
chile-verde IN A 128.83.134.? ; WCH 1.116
IN HINFO "OptiPlex GX50" "Windows NT"
Requested Information Details
- $ORIGIN: the existing subdomain assigned or being hosting for your department.
- Name of Contact Person: usually the technical support coordinator for the department.
- Telephone: telephone number where the contact person can be located.
- Office Location: building and room number of the contact person.
- E-mail Address: e-mail address of the contact person for verification/updates/alerts.
- Computer Name: the name you want assigned to your device (see Choosing a Host Name).
- Network Address (A): the IP address assignment or range for your area.
- Computer Location: building and room number where computer is located.
- Host Information (HINFO): type of computer or device, e.g., Dell Optiplex GX.
- Operating System: operating system on the computer, e.g., Windows 2000.
Canonical Names (CNAMEs) and Mail eXchanger (MX) Records
Besides the A (Address) resource record and HINFO (Host Information) resource records, there are several others. The most common ones are:
- Canonical Name (CNAME) - used for creating alias names (in place of A and HINFO).
- Mail eXchanger (MX) - identifies a machine that is designated to receive e-mail in place of another machine (in place of A and HINFO).
CNAME Example: green-chile is an alias for chile-verde:
$ORIGIN cm.utexas.edu. ; Responsible-Person 475-9400 WCH 1.114 r.person@mail.utexas.edu green-chile IN CNAME chile-verde
MX Example: In the example below, poblano mail is redirected to mailhost machine (the number 10 is a preference number that allows the use and ranking of multiple mail processor machines):
$ORIGIN cm.utexas.edu. ; Responsible-Person 475-9400 WCH 1.114 r.person@mail.utexas.edu poblano IN MX 10 mailhost
Using the $ORIGIN Statement
In any of the above examples, the $ORIGIN statement can be excluded if a Fully Qualified Domain Name is substituted for the computer name (e.g., poblano.cm.utexas.edu. instead of only poblano). The MX resource record example above can be rewritten as:
; Responsible-Person 475-9400 WCH 1.114 r.person@mail.utexas.edu poblano.cm.utexas.edu. IN MX 10 mailhost.cm.utexas.edu.
A fully qualified domain name (FQDN) is a domain name that extends all the way back to root. It must include the root "." at the end of the name to be consider a FQDN (e.g., "tn.utexas.edu." not "tn.utexas.edu"). See Understanding How Domain Names Work for more information.
