Independent DNS

[webgeek]

Many website owners have told horror stories about having their domain registered at the same company where their website is hosted. However, that seems to be the norm.

Just wondering how many people use independent DNS providers, and if so, who you recommend...

 

[Faevilangel]

I use 123-reg to host the domains, and vidahost to host the website, excellent support from both sides and a great price to go with.

If I need to buy a .com then I go to namecheap.com as 123-reg are expensive for them.

 

[Optegris]

Many website owners have told horror stories about having their domain registered at the same company where their website is hosted. However, that seems to be the norm.

Just wondering how many people use independent DNS providers, and if so, who you recommend...

<pedant>
DNS is not to be confused with domain registrations, they are two different things.
</pedant>

I too have come across issues where a customers host has disappeared and they have registered the domain with them but not once have I had a problem retrieving the domain.

For UK domains, Nominet can update the IPS tag for where the domain is registered in 10 seconds flat and also give the customer access to the domain to update name servers.

For non-UK domains it can be a little more tricky but the key is to look for who is the top level registrar and go directly to them and they can normally assist.

The real problems begin where the domain has been registered under the web host or web designers name instead of the client, that's where the brown stuff can hit the fan so it's a 1000% more important to make sure you own the domain rather than where it's registered...

 

[Dominic Taylor]

The most important aspect is ensuring a domain is registered in your name. If it is, you can get it from almost any registrar these days. If a domain isn't in your name, it's much harder (if possible at all).

DNS-wise, once or twice a week we have our monitoring triggered by another company's DNS failing and thus causing issues with our client's site.

 

[webgeek]

Hrmm, I had kinda hoped someone would have pointed me to a solution other than my current DNSMadeEasy, just so I could find out if I'm missing a discount or better solution.

Personally, I've found independent DNS helps my sanity, probably owing to having hosting DNS issues so many times with a few (names omitted to protect the guilty) hosting providers.

Perhaps these days it's no longer necessary to have independent DNS

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

What does DNS providers have to do with the original statement - domains and webhosting?

 

[Optegris]

Hrmm, I had kinda hoped someone would have pointed me to a solution other than my current DNSMadeEasy, just so I could find out if I'm missing a discount or better solution.

Personally, I've found independent DNS helps my sanity, probably owing to having hosting DNS issues so many times with a few (names omitted to protect the guilty) hosting providers.

Perhaps these days it's no longer necessary to have independent DNS

I think you're confusing two separate issues. Are you looking for independent name servers to point your domains at in order to set host records or are you concerned about registering domains with the same people who host your site?

 

[webgeek]

The first sentence was simply a lead in, a statement of fact (I think).

The question in bold was the question. Do people use independent DNS, and if so, who?

Thanks

 

[Rudi]

It's always going to be best to provide redundant nameservers where appropriate, whether that's an external provider or not is completely up to you, although separate networks would be recommended.

For example, we have servers with providers in the UK, and backups in France and Germany, each acting as a subsequent nameserver for the hosted domains. If you have DNS with a good provider, no doubt their DNS is already redundant enough with their nameservers being in different physical locations on different physical networks. Rackspace for example provide this service as standard when you host your DNS with them, which all providers should too but hey.

 

[HungryHorse]

I use a DNS provider independent of my domain registrars and hosting service providers for a few reasons:

1) a better DNS service with advanced features built-in such as failovers when a host goes down
2) management of all zones in one single place
3) to make the process of moving a site or service between servers, hosting providers etc easier

I have been happy with both DNSMadeEasy and Point (you can host 10 zones / domains for free with Point but they don't have the advanced features and infrastructure that DNSMadeEasy has)

Another point is that many DNS hosting services provided by your general shared hosting provider or domain registrars have pretty crappy interfaces which I'm not fond of.