DNS load balancing between 2 CPanel VPS

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Posted by vB-WP-Admin, 01-12-2010, 03:45 AM
I have two CPanel VPS from different providers and at different DCs, each running independent name servers to manage the domains hosted on them. However, now I am thinking about adding a bit of redundancy as far as DNS is concerned, by using one of the name servers from each VPS to also resolve sites for the other VPS i.e. Now in order to do this, what changes will I have to make and how will I be able to make and edit entries for the sites hosted on other VPS (through WHM preferably)? To add more confusion to the mix, I am planning to use Google Apps Premier for email management.
Posted by PeakVPN-KH, 01-12-2010, 03:55 AM
The simplest method is to configure clustering within WHM. You simply go in and add the other server as a cluster host. Then you can tell it to Synchronize DNS changes between the two. You can make one standalone or you can allow 2-way synchronization. Once it's configured, go to the server with all of the records and go down to the DNS section. Tell it to do a full synchronization. At that point, assign server 1: ns1 and server 2: ns2 (as an example, they can be named anything - just make sure they are valid at the registrar) Now you have two servers redundant of each other. Depending whether you allow synchronization on each, anytime you make a DNS change it's automatically propagated to the other server.
Posted by LeaTrueman, 01-12-2010, 05:12 AM
Hello, Please refer the cpanel docs http://docs.cpanel.net/twiki/bin/vie...nfigureCluster for more details on DNS clustering.
Posted by madaboutlinux, 01-12-2010, 05:25 AM
Yes, I agree with "ServerOrigin" and will recommend a 2 way synchronization. Assign 4 name servers to each domain at their registrar end, 2 name servers of Server 1 and the other 2 of Server 2. So whenever a site is added on the any of the server, a DNS zone will be sync'ed on the other server as well. BTW, the 2 name servers on a server are not of much a help, when the other server itself is down along with it's 2 name servers. If you really wish to have DNS redundancy, you should have separate servers for hosting websites and 2 different servers for your name servers and configure DNS clustering. Those 2 name servers will be used for all the domains hosted on all your servers and their zones will be created on 2 NS servers.
Posted by cPanelDavidG, 01-13-2010, 06:41 PM
If you pursue the route of separate DNS servers, set your cPanel/WHM servers to have a clustering role of "Synchronize" and the DNSONLY servers to have a clustering role of "Standalone. This will allow the cPanel/WHM servers to push/pull updates to/from the DNSONLY servers as they happen, but not incur needless network overhead caused by having both set to "Synchronize." The DNS role "Synchronize" will push new records to the remote server and pull in new records from the remote server, regardless of what the DNS role of the other server is set to.