Com*One DNS FAQ

1. What is DNS?
2. Do I need DNS?
3. Is DNS the same thing as a Domain?
4. Does ComOne register domain names?
5. Can ComOne do my DNS for me? If so, how do I set this up?
6. What are the names and IP addresses of the ComOne nameservers?

Q.) What is DNS?

A. DNS stands for Domain Name Service. DNS is an Internet Standard for resolving the names of individual machines into IP addresses and vice versa. This resolution is perfomed by machines called nameservers, and these nameservers turn things like the names of web and mail servers into IP addresses.

Q. Do I need DNS?

A.The Internet functions using IP addresses, not names, so a nameserver is necessary if you are going to use a website or mail server. Not everyone needs DNS. If the machine in question is not supposed to be found on the internet, a good way to hide it is to NOT provide DNS for it. It doesn't stop people from connecting to the IP address, but it does make it harder to find the machine..

Q. Is DNS the same thing as a Domain?

A. Not quite. DNS is a service, not an object. DNS is the process of turning the name you register into an IP address so that humans can remember the name, and the computers, which use numbers, can translate the name the humans understand into the numbers they understand.

Q. Does ComOne register domain names?

A. Yes, ComOne provides domain name registration services for the .org.zw and .gov.zw. However, we can register the .co.zw with Zispa on your behalf. Please see ZISPA's website for the .co.zw registration.

Q. Can ComOne do my DNS for me?
        If so, how do I set this up?

A. YES, and for a fee, but only if 1) you are a dedicated Internet or Intranet customer of ComOne, 2) you are NOT a reseller of Internet services and 3) only for a limited number of domains (see the DNS Policy page for more information). ComOne can provide Primary and Secondary Authoritative DNS in both Forward and Reverse for most customers. To set this up, simply complete a Domain Registration form and e-mail the request to
dns-admin@telone.co.zw. Your request MUST contain the names and IP addresses of the machines you wish to have DNS resolving for, and you must designate your mail server if you are running one (mail servers require special setup).

Q. What are the names and IP addresses of the ComOne nameservers?

A. ComOne maintains two DNS servers. These function as Authoritative (non-recursive).

The authoritative servers provide Primary or Secondary Authoritative DNS for customers. If you are having ComOne perform Internet accessable DNS for your domain name, then you will need to provide your registrar with ComOne's nameserver names and IP addresses. The Authoritative machines will NOT resolve any domain that they are not Authoritative for. Using the IP's and names of the ComOne Authoritative servers will not work on client machines trying to resolve random Internet addresses. Here is the list of the authoritative Servers.