DNS is misconfigured for domain garagegames.com
by Alex Rice · in Site Feedback · 07/03/2005 (8:25 pm) · 7 replies
IE on Win Xp cannot resolve the URL "garagegames.com" (goes to MSN search page), or http://garagegames.com (DNS error). Because there is a missing A record IP address for the hostname garagegames.com
Firefox on Win XP , interestingly, just guesses at www.garagegames.com hostname, I guess. But if you look at the DNS output, it definitely needs fixing:
This should return an IP address but does not
This is correct:
You should have an A record with IP address on your domain, like this:
I used to work for an ISP and a web hosting company and have administered BIND servers. It's been a few years, but let me know if you have any questions.
Firefox on Win XP , interestingly, just guesses at www.garagegames.com hostname, I guess. But if you look at the DNS output, it definitely needs fixing:
alexr@cyclone:~$ host www.garagegames.com www.garagegames.com has address 216.116.32.49 alexr@cyclone:~$ host garagegames.com (empty) alexr@cyclone:~$
This should return an IP address but does not
alexr@cyclone:~$ dig garagegames.com ; <<>> DiG 9.2.1 <<>> garagegames.com ;; global options: printcmd ;; Got answer: ;; ->>HEADER<<- opcode: QUERY, status: NOERROR, id: 17120 ;; flags: qr rd ra; QUERY: 1, ANSWER: 0, AUTHORITY: 0, ADDITIONAL: 0 ;; QUESTION SECTION: ;garagegames.com. IN A ;; Query time: 1 msec ;; SERVER: 65.19.175.2#53(65.19.175.2) ;; WHEN: Sun Jul 3 20:16:14 2005 ;; MSG SIZE rcvd: 33
This is correct:
alexr@cyclone:~$ dig www.garagegames.com ; <<>> DiG 9.2.1 <<>> www.garagegames.com ;; global options: printcmd ;; Got answer: ;; ->>HEADER<<- opcode: QUERY, status: NOERROR, id: 17475 ;; flags: qr rd ra; QUERY: 1, ANSWER: 1, AUTHORITY: 0, ADDITIONAL: 0 ;; QUESTION SECTION: ;www.garagegames.com. IN A ;; ANSWER SECTION: www.garagegames.com. 20962 IN A 216.116.32.49 ;; Query time: 1 msec ;; SERVER: 65.19.175.2#53(65.19.175.2) ;; WHEN: Sun Jul 3 20:16:23 2005 ;; MSG SIZE rcvd: 53
You should have an A record with IP address on your domain, like this:
alexr@cyclone:~$ dig mindlube.com ; <<>> DiG 9.2.1 <<>> mindlube.com ;; global options: printcmd ;; Got answer: ;; ->>HEADER<<- opcode: QUERY, status: NOERROR, id: 16158 ;; flags: qr rd ra; QUERY: 1, ANSWER: 1, AUTHORITY: 0, ADDITIONAL: 0 ;; QUESTION SECTION: ;mindlube.com. IN A ;; ANSWER SECTION: mindlube.com. 85764 IN A 64.62.230.231 ;; Query time: 1 msec ;; SERVER: 65.19.175.2#53(65.19.175.2) ;; WHEN: Sun Jul 3 20:16:29 2005 ;; MSG SIZE rcvd: 46
I used to work for an ISP and a web hosting company and have administered BIND servers. It's been a few years, but let me know if you have any questions.
About the author
#2
It is a courtesy to have the main domain name resolve to www..com, not a requirement. For that matter I can have a domain that points to nothing but my mailserver and that to is perfectly valid.
07/03/2005 (9:28 pm)
The DNS isn't configured wrong. GarageGames.com is the main domain and there is not a host system there. There is a host system webserver at the host www.garagegames.comIt is a courtesy to have the main domain name resolve to www.
#3
@Jason- A redirect is not going to do anything, because garagegames.com hostname is not resolving in the first place.
07/03/2005 (9:34 pm)
@labrat- Technically you are correct of course. Many old school sysadmins frown upon directing the A record of the domain to their websever. However if you look any any professional web hosting outfit there will be an A record setup in DNS so you can just type in my-domain.com and get to the website. It is a courtesy to future visitors of your site so they don't have to REMEMBER to finger in www. Interestingly Firefox seems to have an error handler that just inserts the www for ya, although it does not display on the address field.@Jason- A redirect is not going to do anything, because garagegames.com hostname is not resolving in the first place.
#4
It seems that firefox's handler is a bit more advance though.
As a web admin, I expect return visitors to my site to either 1. Remember the URL they used the first time... and or 2. Bookmark the site if they plan to come back
07/04/2005 (12:14 am)
IE has an lazy handler (just like firefox does) type in garagegames and then click GO, no www. or .com it will take you to the www.garagegames.com site.It seems that firefox's handler is a bit more advance though.
As a web admin, I expect return visitors to my site to either 1. Remember the URL they used the first time... and or 2. Bookmark the site if they plan to come back
#5
07/04/2005 (12:56 am)
People will get confused when they type in http://garagegames.com and get a host not found error message. Look at it from a marketing & convenience perspective instead of i-am-sysadmin-i-do-however-i-please perspective.
#6
It's really obvious when you think about it from a usability perspective.
The only reason my boss didn't want to do it, I guess, is because it was not the old school Unix sysadmin way. Or somehing. Now it's standard- I think all pro web hosting providers setup DNS this way.
07/04/2005 (1:08 am)
I had this same debate with my boss who owned an ISP, in about '96. He didn't want to setup the DNS this way for all the websites he was hosting for his customers. I advised him he should. He eventually changed his mind, not because of me, but because all his customers complained that their website didn't come up when they typed in their-domain.com It's really obvious when you think about it from a usability perspective.
The only reason my boss didn't want to do it, I guess, is because it was not the old school Unix sysadmin way. Or somehing. Now it's standard- I think all pro web hosting providers setup DNS this way.
#7
when i think of garagegames.com, i dont think of "WWW."garagegames.com ... it's just that i am savvy enough to realize that if it doesnt resolve without the www. that i should try with.
marketeers away!
07/05/2005 (10:25 pm)
Yep. a lot of us nerd types forget that most the users out there are idiots when it comes to computers (just like i am an idiot when it comes to cars)when i think of garagegames.com, i dont think of "WWW."garagegames.com ... it's just that i am savvy enough to realize that if it doesnt resolve without the www. that i should try with.
marketeers away!
Torque Owner Jason Swearingen
But I think he's being a little too technical. All you need to do is configure garagegames.com to redirect to www.garagegames.com, or something similar. (If you have to manually update your dns records, then great, but most people use gui wizards these days)