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DNS Failover/Redundancy
| Posted by eviltechie, 05-01-2008, 07:47 AM |
| Is it possible to do something like this?
Basically have 2 hosting accounts at different providers...each set-up for the same domain name...and then somehow wtih DNS make it so if host #1 goes down traffic goes to host #2 (which would basically be a splash screen explaining that host #1 is down and will be back soon).
DNS isn't my strong point, but I do know you can do this with MX records...so if the first server fails it tries the next until it gets a working one or reaches the end of the list. I'd just like to do it is A records.
It wouldn't be as simple as setting the nameservers like this would it?
ns1.host1.com
ns2.host1.com
ns1.host2.com
ns2.host2.com
Would it use the host1 nameservers as long as they're online, and if not failover to the host2 nameservers? If so, great, but what if the host1 nameservers are online but the server itself is not.
Would this be a job for a load balancer?
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| Posted by husaren, 05-01-2008, 09:49 AM |
| Priorities/preferences are not implemented for A-records. So that would be impossible.
I really dont think that would have the desired effect.
You might want to give RoundRobinDNS a look. RRdns will do what you are looking for if the client are using recent MS IE browsers.
-Perhaps HA-linux or clustering is more suitable for your needs ?
Thats pretty much what they do yea..
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| Posted by RelativeDesign-Jerret, 05-02-2008, 02:23 AM |
| Check out DNSMadeEasy.com. Their DNS service w/failover has worked out very well for me. At $14.99 a *year* it's not worth the effort of even managing my own nameservers.
They monitor your IP and if the server's down they'll switch over to a backup IP youve specified for the main A record. The next request the client makes should return the new IP.
It's not bulletproof by any means as ISPs/software/etc can ignore the TTL and cache the record for longer but in my experience it works well enough to keep most customers happy.
Regards,
Jerret
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| Posted by eviltechie, 05-02-2008, 11:11 AM |
| Ah, very nice! That looks like what I was looking for. Thanks!
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| Posted by RelativeDesign-Jerret, 05-02-2008, 01:30 PM |
| You're welcome, good luck!
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