Cidy Long
Level 1 (1 points)

Q: DNS setting: Add host, error: A host name is required.

Hi, Here.

 

I was stuck here a while. When I trying to configure My DNS by adding some host in "host names" section. I given host name in my ComputerName (it is same with LocalHostName and HostName as: "MacMiniXServer"), IP: 10.1.1.100, alias: xserver. And then tick "Create An MX record for this host name"(This machine will deal mail thing.) and then press "create" button.

 

A error window pop out shows "A host name is required. This host name can't be create without a name." I am very confused, what's host name DNS requested? a fulll name "MacMiniXServer.something.something.com" or "MacMiniXServer.local"? or a just simple host name? Or what looks like it will be a good name?

Mac mini, OS X Mavericks (10.9.1), X server 3.0.2's open directory iss

Posted on Feb 18, 2014 7:26 PM

by Strontium90,Solvedanswer
Strontium90 Strontium90
Level 5 (4,067 points)
Servers Enterprise
A:

DNS requires you to enter a fully qualified host name into the Host Name field.  An example would be cidy.long.com or www.apple.com or file.long.org. 

 

You do not want to use .local as your namespace as that is a reserved namespace for Bonjour.  You should also use a valid, publicly routable fully qualified host name as you may want to access services from the internet at some point in the future.  If you use file.cidy.int then that name will only work on your LAN as .int is not a valid TLD.  If you do no own a domain name, then you should consider purchasing one.

 

DNS is the foundation of OS X Server.  You want to make sure you have this part correct before configuring services.  You will save yourself a lot of headaches in the future by crafting DNS properly.

 

Choosing a name should start with defining your domain name.  If you are a business you likely have one already.  If you are an individual you may not.  Again, it is possible to use a private name space like .int or .private, but you will hamstring yourself should future requirements demand that the server host services to external clients as well as internal ones.

 

R-

Apple Consultants Network

Apple Professional Services

Author "Mavericks Server – Foundation Services" :: Exclusively available in Apple's iBooks Store

Posted on Feb 18, 2014 7:47 PM

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Cidy Long

Q: DNS setting: Add host, error: A host name is required.

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Strontium90,Solvedanswer

    Strontium90 Strontium90 Feb 18, 2014 7:47 PM in response to Cidy Long
    Level 5 (4,067 points)
    Servers Enterprise
    Feb 18, 2014 7:47 PM in response to Cidy Long

    DNS requires you to enter a fully qualified host name into the Host Name field.  An example would be cidy.long.com or www.apple.com or file.long.org. 

     

    You do not want to use .local as your namespace as that is a reserved namespace for Bonjour.  You should also use a valid, publicly routable fully qualified host name as you may want to access services from the internet at some point in the future.  If you use file.cidy.int then that name will only work on your LAN as .int is not a valid TLD.  If you do no own a domain name, then you should consider purchasing one.

     

    DNS is the foundation of OS X Server.  You want to make sure you have this part correct before configuring services.  You will save yourself a lot of headaches in the future by crafting DNS properly.

     

    Choosing a name should start with defining your domain name.  If you are a business you likely have one already.  If you are an individual you may not.  Again, it is possible to use a private name space like .int or .private, but you will hamstring yourself should future requirements demand that the server host services to external clients as well as internal ones.

     

    R-

    Apple Consultants Network

    Apple Professional Services

    Author "Mavericks Server – Foundation Services" :: Exclusively available in Apple's iBooks Store

  • by Cidy Long,

    Cidy Long Cidy Long Feb 18, 2014 8:44 PM in response to Strontium90
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Feb 18, 2014 8:44 PM in response to Strontium90

    Actually. I have a registered domain name as: "something.com.au"(godaddy.com). A Mac Mini with host name as www, smtp, pop3 and vpn runing on same machine with internal ip 10.1.1.100. All such services exposed to public accessable through my siemens speedstream 4200 ADSL modem (gateway) with "port forwarding" setting.

     

    I had successfully set up www service in working order now, as DNS not work well, mail and vpn service is not available.

     

    Also I have other three machines with IP 10.1.1.199(HP4600DN color laser printer), 10.1.1.99 (Dell PowerEdge 2950). 10.1.1.200(Mac Mini as server back up) works in internal network, All those machines are not accessable from public.

     

    I also shared Mac Mini (10.1.1.100)'s internet for an other subnet working 192.168.2.X with its wifi, all other 4 machines and a iphone a ipad works in the wireless net work.

     

    This situation makes my home network very complex, so it is very hard to set up my internal DNS server to support all my machines, especially I need to enable my mail and VPN service in my Main server (Mac Mini with Xserver 3.0.2 IP 10.1.1.100).

     

    I have plenty Mac OS X experience but only couple of weeks with OS X server. I know DNS is very important for me to run any thing else smoothly, but I didn't find a good solution to fit my situation. Any good practical advice are welcome and with appreciate.

     

    Best regarding!

     

    Cidy

  • by Strontium90,Helpful

    Strontium90 Strontium90 Feb 19, 2014 4:14 AM in response to Cidy Long
    Level 5 (4,067 points)
    Servers Enterprise
    Feb 19, 2014 4:14 AM in response to Cidy Long

    So I am going to try and sort this out for you a bit.

     

    This situation makes my home network very complex

     

    Very much so.  Let's start at the beginning.  You have a domain of something.com.au.  You then have a Mac mini Server that is going to sit inside your DSL modem on a private address.  You want this to run web (www), mail (smtp, pop3, imap), and VPN (pptp or l2tp).  So first the DNS question.

     

    Your system should have an A record, likely pointing to your mail host name.  (The DNS RFC states that an MX should point to an A record).  So define the mini as mail.something.com.au.  Then create an alias record for www pointing to mail and an MX record for the domain pointing to mail.  This can be done on the single pane of DNS using the simple view.

     

    Screen Shot 2014-02-19 at 7.11.27 AM.png

     

    Then add additional records for each other named device on your network.

     

    I also shared Mac Mini (10.1.1.100)'s internet for an other subnet working 192.168.2.X with its wifi, all other 4 machines and a iphone a ipad works in the wireless net work.

     

    Now, can I ask why you are creating a double NAT for these devices?  Is this simply because you do not have a wireless base station?

     

    Also, in the US, if you are on a residential internet service, many ISPs will block web and smtp.  The thought is that you are paying a lower rate so they will not let you host "business" services. 

  • by Cidy Long,

    Cidy Long Cidy Long Feb 19, 2014 4:37 AM in response to Strontium90
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Feb 19, 2014 4:37 AM in response to Strontium90

    Hi. Here

     

    Thank you for your effort. Your advice is helpful. I am getting closer. I had set up DNS work properly now from mac mini system preference, and I also set up mail and www on same host as one www and one mail as alias, I am trying to find out a way to put other service on same host too.

     

    I set up in my godaddy.com in cname section to make multiple cname hosts (vpn, smtp, pop3 and ftp) point to same ip address, which go through my gateway to access my mac mini's service, I think it will works. I will try it tomorrow.

     

    Yeah. I live in Australia, my ISP not worry me run multiple servers in my residential ADSL connectivity. I live in Canada about half year last year, I found there is a lots of different between Australia and North America in ISP industry.

     

    You are not wrong, I don't have wifi router in my house, so I used my mac mini as wireless router. So I have two DHCP servers in my network, one is ADSL modem with 4 ports of ethernet without wireless support, and other one is my mac mini's air-port extreme to support my other three macs and iphone/ipad.

     

    Cidy from Australia

  • by Juan Ignacio Gutierrez,

    Juan Ignacio Gutierrez Juan Ignacio Gutierrez Jul 16, 2016 8:37 AM in response to Strontium90
    Level 1 (23 points)
    Servers Enterprise
    Jul 16, 2016 8:37 AM in response to Strontium90

    My question is, how to define a zone without a hostname... I already have hostname.domain.com but if I tried to reach my web page typing just the domain.com, i get nowhere.  In my Host Names window I have already defined the hostname.domain.com, then in my Records Window, i can't define domain.com wherever i look.  Please help.

  • by appreciate,

    appreciate Jul 16, 2016 9:12 AM in response to Cidy Long
    Level 4 (1,276 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 16, 2016 9:12 AM in response to Cidy Long

    An apple article is there : OS X: Server addresses used by Software Update - Apple Support