Configuring DNS

This chapter provides information on configuring the DNS options for the OfficeConnect Remote 840.

• "DNS Overview"

• "Configuring DNS"

• "Configuring Remote DNS Servers"

• "Configuring Static DNS Host Entries"

A Domain Name Server (DNS) provides an IP address to a host computer for a given domain name. A DNS Proxy receives requests and attempts to find an entry in its local tables, and if one is not found, forwards the request to a remote server. The remote DNS Server can be learned dynamically through PPP or it can be statically assigned.

The OfficeConnect Remote 840's DNS Proxy enables you to configure remote DNS Servers for specific domains. For instance, assume you have two remote sites configured, one to the Internet and the other to a corporate site which has a domain name of 3com.com. Two DNS remote servers can be configured, one which uses the corporate site for 3com.com and the other to use the Internet as the default.

The OfficeConnect Remote 840's DNS Proxy also enables you to configure static host entries. The static table is checked first before the DNS request is forwarded on to the remote server.

If the OfficeConnect Remote 840 was first booted in the DHCP Smart Mode, an entry of ocrdsl-3com.com was added which maps to the OfficeConnect Remote 840's local LAN IP address. This entry was added to simplify access to the OfficeConnect Remote 840 Manager.

To access the DNS configuration screens, go to the OfficeConnect Remote 840 Manager and select Configuration > Global > DNS.

This screen contains the following fields:

1 .   To enable DNS services, check the Enable DNS box.

2 .   To specify the number of times the OfficeConnect Remote 840 will attempt to reach a primary or secondary DNS server, enter the number in the Number of Retries field.

3 .   To specify the amount of time to wait for a timeout when the OfficeConnect Remote 840 attempts to reach a primary or secondary DNS server, enter the number of seconds in the Timeout field.

4 .   Click Submit.

When the OfficeConnect Remote 840's DNS Proxy cannot find a domain name in its local static entries, it will forward the request to one or two remote servers. The remote DNS Server can be learned dynamically if the remote site is configured for PPP, otherwise it must be specified. Up to two servers may be specified per domain name.

Multiple DNS remote server entries can be added. The server is chosen based on the requested domain name. If a match is not found, the default entry is chosen. The default entry has a domain name of '*'.

1 .   Select the DNS Server List button from the DNS page.

2 .   To add a new entry, click Add. The following screen appears:

3 .   Enter the domain name for the entry, enter * for the default.

If the remote site uses PPP, the DNS remote servers can be learned dynamically.

4 .   Choose the remote site name from the selection box. Otherwise they must be specified. Select Specify, and enter the IP addresses of servers.

5 .   Click Add.

The OfficeConnect Remote 840 can function as a DNS server.

1 .   If you want to configure any Static DNS Entries, select Static DNS Entries and click Add.

2 .   Then enter the Domain Name and the Host IP Address of the machine that has that domain name and click Add.