Manual : 3-DNS Administrator Guide, version 2.1

Applies To:

Show Versions Show Versions

3-DNS Controller versions 1.x - 4.x

  • 2.1 PTF-01, 2.1.2, 2.1.0
Manual
Original Publication Date: 03/01/2010



Introduction to the 3-DNS Controller

Welcome to the 3-DNS Controller

3-DNS Controller specifications

Internet protocol and network management support
Security features
Configuration scalability
Configuration and monitoring tools
Browser support
System synchronization options
Configurable data collection for server status and network path data
Redundant system configurations
IP packet filtering

Managing traffic on a global network

A sample network layout
Synchronizing configuration information and broadcasting performance metrics
Using a 3-DNS Controller as a standard DNS server
Load balancing connections across the network
Working with BIG-IP Controllers and other products

What's new in version 2.1

Dynamic Persistence
Advanced load balancing to the Cisco LocalDirector
New load balancing mode
iQuery enhancements
BIND Upgrade
Configurable probe protocols
Enable/disable option to change status of objects
Scripts to back up and restore 3-DNS Controller configurations
Multiple pool support using the Configuration utility
3-DNS Controller subnetting
New probing exclusion lists
Rollup and rollback scripts
Network time protocol (NTP) support
New variable to check principal/receiver status
Improved log messages
Single interface management

Finding help and technical support resources

Preparing for Installation

Reviewing the installation tasks

Understanding the installation phases
Working with configuration tools

Planning issues for the hardware setup

Gathering basic information
Addressing special hardware configuration issues

Planning issues for the network setup

Defining data centers and servers
Setting up data collection with the big3d agent
Setting up SNMP probing for hosts
Planning sync groups
Setting up communications between 3-DNS Controllers, BIG-IP Controllers, and big3d agents

Planning issues for the load balancing configuration

Understanding the wide IP key
Choosing a load balancing mode
Ensuring availability for e-commerce, FTP, and other services that use multiple ports
Using the LDNS round robin wide IP attribute

Using advanced traffic control features

Configuring topology-based access control
Setting up IP packet filtering
Defining production rules

Planning DNS zone file management

Replacing your DNS servers with 3-DNS Controllers as master DNS servers for your domain
Running 3-DNS Controllers as DNS masters for only wide IP sub-domains

Setting Up the Hardware

Unpacking and installing the hardware

Reviewing the hardware requirements

Familiarizing yourself with the 3-DNS Controller hardware
Environmental requirements and usage guidelines
Installing and connecting the hardware

Running the First-Time Boot utility

Gathering the information
Starting the First-Time Boot utility
Defining a root password
Defining a host name
Configuring a default route
Configuring a time zone
Configuring NTP clocks
Configuring the interfaces
Configuring remote administration
Configuring settings for the 3-DNS web server
Identifying additional controllers in the network
Configuring the NameSurfer application for zone file management
Confirming your configuration settings
Committing your configuration settings to the system

Enabling remote login tools

Preparing workstations for command line access

Downloading the F-Secure SSH client from the 3-DNS web server
Downloading the F-Secure SSH client using FTP
Setting up the F-Secure SSH client on a Windows 95 or Windows NT workstation
Setting up the F-Secure SSH client on a UNIX workstation

Defining the Network Setup

Setting up a basic configuration

Setting up a data center

Setting up servers

Defining 3-DNS Controller servers
Defining BIG-IP Controller servers
Defining host servers
Configuring host SNMP settings
Configuring SNMP agents on hosts

Setting up sync groups

Setting the time tolerance value

Configuring global variables

Configuring IP filters

Defining the filter criteria

Configuring Sendmail

Finding the mail exchanger for your domain
Setting up Sendmail

Configuring Basic Load Balancing

Getting started with load balancing

Understanding load balancing
Using basic, static load balancing modes
Using advanced, dynamic load balancing modes

Configuring load balancing

Understanding wide IPs
Understanding pools
Adding a wide IP
Troubleshooting manual configuration problems

Changing global variables that affect load balancing

Setting global alternate and fallback modes
Understanding TTL and timer values

Configuring Specialized Load Balancing

Configuring load balancing using specialized modes

Setting up Quality of Service (QOS) mode

Understanding QOS coefficients
Customizing the QOS equation
Using the Dynamic Ratio option

Setting up Global Availability mode

A Global Availability configuration example

Setting up load balancing for services that require multiple ports

An example configuration for e-commerce services

Setting up topology-based features

Setting up topology-based access control
An example configuration for topology access control
Using the topology load balancing mode

Monitoring and Administration

Monitoring and administration utilities provided on the 3-DNS Controller

Working with the 3-DNS Maintenance menu

Configuring wide IPs
Viewing statistics
Working with the big3d agent
Managing synchronized files
Working with security issues
Using the 3-DNS web server
Working with syncd
Configuring NTP
Configuring NameSurfer

Changing passwords for the 3-DNS Controller

Changing passwords and adding new user IDs for the
3-DNS web server

Viewing system statistics

Configuring SNMP

Working with SNMP on the 3-DNS Controller

Configuring SNMP on the 3-DNS Controller
Downloading the MIBs
Understanding configuration file requirements
Configuring options for the checktrap script
Configuring the 3-DNS SNMP agent using the Configuration utility

Controlling Network Traffic Patterns

Controlling network traffic patterns with production rules

Setting up production rules in the Configuration utility

Viewing, adding, and deleting production rules
Choosing the rule type
Defining time-based triggers
Defining event-based triggers
Choosing the action

Working with the production rules scripting language

Inserting production rules in the wideip.conf file
Executing and managing production rules
The if statement
The when statement
The every statement
Production rule actions
Production rule examples

Wideip.conf Syntax

Overview of the wideip.conf file

Using include files

Syntax for include files

Statements

Syntax rules
The globals statement
The datacenter statement
The sync_group statement
The server statement
The wide IP statement
The topology statement
Probing exclusion lists

Comments

Sample 3-DNS Controller configuration file

Sample 3-DNS Controller configuration file using include files

Understanding cur_ values

How cur_ values are used

3-DNS Controller Utilities and Scripts

Using utilities and scripts

3-DNS Controller utilities documentation

Scripts

3dns_admin_start
3dns_auth
3dns_dump
3dns_sync_metrics
3dns_web_config
3dns_web_passwd
3dnsmaint
3dprint
3ndc
big3d_check
big3d_install
big3d_restart
big3d_version
edit_lock
edit_wideip
install_key and F5makekey
syncd_checkpoint
syncd_rollback
syncd_start
syncd_stop

BIND 8 Information

BIND 8 overview

Statements

acl statement
key statement
logging statement
options statement
server statement
zone statement

Comments

Converting older configuration files to BIND 8 format

Relating BIND information to 3-DNS Controller wide IP definitions

Before defining a wide IP
Defining a wide IP
Understanding zone minimums

Replacing your DNS servers with 3-DNS Controllers as master DNS servers for your domain

Running 3-DNS Controllers as DNS masters only for wide IP sub-domains

DNS Resource Records

Overview

Types of resource records

Common types
Other types