Stupid host cannot help, DNS guru needed

[PrettyCarla]

Hello, our stupid new host cannot help with following fatal bug:

Lets suppose we have domain.com hosted with them. We create many subdomains as subdomain1.domain.com, subdomain2.domain.com, subdomain3. domain.com,... etc

But their name server is able only to return correct IP for domain.com + www.domain.com + just one subdomain. Other subdomains return domain does not exist. Funny thing is that the one subdomain resolved well is that one which is asked first from internet from last name server reset. So one day you can access subdomain3.domain.com and no other subdomain, next day is subdomain3.domain.com unavailable but you get subdomain6.domain.com, if next morning i start testing with subdomain2.domain.com there is this one happy for that day etc. :-)

The host is incredible stupid and they cannot find the error. I did never configure name server. But the symptoms look quite clear. Is there any guru who can guess what is wrong and how exactly fix this bug?

Domain plus all subdomains are configured to same IP address at same virtual account and they work properly. Problem is that name server does not return IP address for other subdomain than first happy one.

[chupachups]

Who´s the host?

[Tipsy]

You'll need someone who knows what they're doing to pop into your server and look at/change DNS and maybe apache too. It really isn't that difficult but you'll ideally want someone you can trust doing stuff like that.

If you have a managed service and subdomains aren't restricted change host NOW. If you don't have a managed service either employ someone to manage your server or start a quick, steep learning curve or you'll be in a lot worse shit that that.

[PrettyCarla]

It's just small project and i would prefer to tell them what they have wrong instead of filling other signup form and manually configure 100 subdomains again. Seems as less work at this time :-)

[Tipsy]

It was as much a warning to make sure you trust the person who finally goes in and does the work ;) Like I say an easy job but they'll probably need access that can let them do all kinds of crap were they that way inclined.

But really - if it's a managed service subdomains really are a very, very basic thing to setup. Usually you simply have DNS catching everything then let apache sort it to keep it simple. If a host can't manage that I'd be worried. It's a little more tricky if you want the subdomains going elsewhere but not much more.

Many hosts will even have installed some kind of web based interface for your to allow you to do this easily yourself with little *nix knowledge.

Of course I'm still presuming we're talking about a dedicated box here. But even on a virtual account, if the host allows more than 1 sub domain there shouldn;t be any problems getting more added. If that is the case though that it's virtual then it's doubtful anyone else can help either.

[PrettyCarla]

Tipsy, yes, it's little scared they cannot help. So it's also test for me how difficult this bug is to find. It's fully managed service. Just virtual account for about $6. It's small non profit non adult project so i do not want to invest more money. Also i do not want to host it with our main adult accounts together.

[arg]

Ditto what Tipsy said. I'd be more concerned about what else the host can't figure out, if they can't solve a simple problem like this. Been too long since I've done my own DNS to remember the details, but if it's not obvious to their support staff, they should at least have been able to google up the answer in under an hour. You don't always get clear warning signs from a host that they're seriously lacking until a catastrophe strikes, so when you do get them (like this), I'd pay attention.

[arg]

Tipsy, yes, it's little scared they cannot help. So it's also test for me how difficult this bug is to find. It's fully managed service. Just virtual account for about $6. It's small non profit non adult project so i do not want to invest more money. Also i do not want to host it with our main adult accounts together.

Slipped in there. Ok, I understand. Good luck resolving it. If you can't, consider a service like directnic.com, around $15/year domain registration, $15/year hosting, with unlimited subdomains, 2GB/year transfer.

[PrettyCarla]

But i cannot google it also. Looks like quite rare problem.

Ditto what Tipsy said. I'd be more concerned about what else the host can't figure out, if they can't solve a simple problem like this. Been too long since I've done my own DNS to remember the details, but if it's not obvious to their support staff, they should at least have been able to google up the answer in under an hour. You don't always get clear warning signs from a host that they're seriously lacking until a catastrophe strikes, so when you do get them (like this), I'd pay attention.

[BlueQuartz]

you need a new host - see sig

[PrettyCarla]

you need a new host - see sig

I need 100 subdomains for this project. But your hosting parameters look great for some others our projects, good to know about it. Thanks.

[NoHassleSteve]

Sounds like you just need a wildcard CNAME record like

*.domain.com. CNAME www.domain.com.

Otherwise, you don't need to have your DNS at this host if they can't figure it out.

Tell them you're contacting other hosts and the one that sets your DNS up correctly is the one they'll lose your business to.

[chaze]

$6.95 600 sub domains.

http://www.adult-website-hosting.com

[jukeboxfrank]

http://support.powweb.com/index.php?...ss&topic_id=50 it is for there
hosts but it will work for you

[the alchemist]

Just tell them to create the damn IN A records... This host is pathetic!

[Manansala]

I have cPanel! Unlimited domains, unlimited subdomains. *laughs*
Oh well, ICQ: 41527314 if whatever ya need from your current host I can do in 5 minutes flat, you get it free.