How do I use Ms DNS and Abyss X2 to use multiple sites?

[usalabs]

ok, here's the scenario, I have a machine running Ms windows 2003 server as dns and running Abyss X2 on same machine, (I find IIS near to impossible to configure), the server is connected to a LAN hub, and 2 other machines (clients) are also connected to the hub, which in turn is connected to the DSL router/modem, to be able to test my websites from behind the router, I had to use a DNS server and set my TCP/IP DNS settings on 1 of the clients to my LAN server IP.

I purchased a domain name, and set the reigtrars DNS servers to a 3rd party service, (the 3rd party service is so easy to setup and maintain), then I added my domain name to the 3rd party DNS service primary zone, and after setting up the A, MX and CNAMES, everything works fine on the default port 80, I can test and edit the website and other people can access the site from outside the router, the problem is,,,,,,,I woudl like to be able to either, setup Ms DNS to redirect a url or configure Abyss X2 for url redirection, so that I can have another host running on X2 but using a different port, and without having to add the port to the end of the url, I tried adding a host name to X2 when I added a new host, but that didn't work.

EG.
http://www.domain.com is redirected to http://domain (or IP):port, I can do that by adding a url redirection to the 3rd party DNS service, but that doesn't help me from behind a router, I need to be able to to the same using Ms DNS server, so that I can test the host on a designated port by using the same url that everyone else would use minus the addition of the port number.

How can rhis be done?

[Ralph]

This could maybe be done in your native host file. I have not had to do this yet for I have two domains that use a virtual host script path to work.

You should try a search on this forum with the words host file or HOST file and you will find out all about it...
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My Abyss Websites!
www.qualitynetdesign.com

[aprelium]

[usalabs]

I tried the HOSTS file, it works, but I have to refresh the page several times before the page shows.

I added www.domain.com as the host name in Abyss X2 using the default port 80, and pointing to an absolute directory.

Then I added, 192.168.0.1 www.domain.com to the HOSTS file, and entered www.domain.com into IE, it showed 'Page can not be displayed' I refreshed about 4 times, then the page showed.

The setting in IE for automatically update page is set to automatic.

Is there a reason that the page has to be refreshed several times before the page is displayed?

[Ralph]

[usalabs]

I can't use the localhost IP 127.0.0.1, because the site is not on the computer that is the client, X2 and the site(s) are installed on a seperate machine with internal LAN IP 192.168.0.1, below is an example setup.

Using firefox I don't need to refresh, but IE seems to need refreshing several times before it'll show th page, hopefully, the same isn't true for outside the LAN, otherwise users will see a 'Page can not be displayed' and assume there's a connection problem.



PC1 = client = IP 192.168.0.2
PC2 = server = IP 192.168.0.1
PC3 = client = IP 192.168.0.3
PC4 = client = IP 192.168.0.4

PC1, 2, 3, and 4 are connected to a 5 port LAN hub, the hub is connected to the DLS router/modem

PC2 (the server) is running Abyss X2 and Ms DNS for internal resolving of the hosts url, mainly because I can't directly access (without using the hosts file) the server by using a url, because it would show the routers access page.

The idea of not using the hosts file is to make sure that I see what outside of the lan users would see when using a url in a browser, using the hosts file will always guarantee it works, but outside the lan, there's no way of knowing if the url works properly, unless an internal DNS is running, using the same records as an external DNS service.

[Ralph]

Hello usalabs,

I am a little confused as to how you have your set up there. Not real sure why you have the MS server set up with DNS. Is there any reason why you can not enable DHCP on your router and have that take care of name resolving for you? Than use the 3rd party DNS to point the name to the proper IP address.

Well, I hope you get it straightened out!

I use a proxy server like this http://www.proxify.cn/ to check out how my site would look from outside the LAN. You can use the domain name to pull up the site on a local computer. This way I do not have to modify my host file.
_________________
My Abyss Websites!
www.qualitynetdesign.com

[aprelium]

usalabs,

We suggest that you try installing another browser (Firefox or Opera) and do the local access test with it. This can help us determine if the needed refreshes are an IE oddity or if they are related to something else.
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Support Team
Aprelium - http://www.aprelium.com