Last Updated: July 19, 1998

DNS Template and Tool Suite

In some instances, you new clients may already have a domain name registered and hosting at another provider. Transferring an existing domain name from one hosting provider to another can be a complicated matter but really need not be. A suite of DNS templates and tools in conjunction with some sound and thorough instruction can make the transfer process very painless and straightforward. These suites of templates and tools as well as sample documentation are outlined in several sections below:

1. Sample DNS Transfer Documentation
2. Modify Registration Template
3. Time To Live (TTL) Tool
4. Installing the DNS Template and Tool Suite

Sample DNS Transfer Documentation

You will need to compose some HTML documentation which outlines the steps necessary to effect a seamless transfer of a domain name from a previous hosting provider to your server. The Domain Name Transfer web page on the BWSD web site is an excellent place to refer to for material. Your HTML content should at least include the following basic steps:

1. Ordering a new Virtual Server
2. Uploading existing content
3. Modifying registration information (template provided)
4. Waiting for cached DNS info to "expire" (tool provided)
5. Cancelling prior hosting service

Modify Registration Template

There are a couple of ways to modify the current DNS information for a domain name that wishes to effect a transfer. One is to simply modify the zone file at the current Primary Name Server such that is points to a new IP address. The other method (which is preferred) is to actually change the Primary and Secondary Name Server information for a domain name. If the domain name is one which the InterNIC acts as registrar (i.e. the top level domain is ".com", ".net", or ".org"), then a domain name modification request form can be generated using the Domain Name Modification Template Generator. This template generator is included in the DNS Template and Tool Suite.

Time To Live (TTL) Tool

After you modify your Domain Name Service (DNS) information, you will want to have both sites active for a period equivalent to the "time to live" (TTL) information for your domain name. The TTL is the amount of time that the current domain name information remains in Internet Name Server caches. It is smart not to cancel a client's current hosting service until after a time equivalent to the TTL has elapsed. A quick way to check TTL information is to use the tool provided in the DNS Template and Tool Suite. You can interface with this tool using a FORM element such as is shown below:

<form method=POST action="/cgi-bin/library/tts/ttl.pl"> 
<input name="name" size=24 maxlength=72> 
<input type="submit" value="Check TTL"> 
</form> 

A working example of a TTL lookup form is found below:

If you are unfamiliar with the FORM HTML element, or would like to learn more about forms, the following URL is an excellent resource:

http://www.ncsa.uiuc.edu/SDG/Software/Mosaic/Docs/fill-out-forms/overview.html

How to Install the DNS Template and Tool Suite

To install the query CGI on your Virtual Server you will need to do the following:

1. Compose a DNS Transfer Documentation Page
   You will need to compose a page which outlines the specific details and steps required to transfer a domain name. The Domain Name Transfer web page on the BWSD web site will give you a good template from which you can start. HTML references to the DNS Template and Tool Suite will be embedded within the HTML documentation (see above).

2. Untar the DNS TTS source code
   
   1. telnet or SSH to your Virtual Server.
      
   2. change directories to your home directory (type "cd" and hit return)
      
   3. type "tar -xvf /usr/local/contrib/dns-tts.tar"
      This will install the ttl.pl, nsi-modify.pl, util.pl, and two other ancilliary files into your "www/cgi-bin/library/tts" directory.
   4. set the return e-mail address
      The Domain Name Modification Template Generator (nsi-modify.pl) includes the capability to e-mail templates to a user specified e-mail address. The return e-mail address for these messages must be specified in the nsi-modify.pl script (installed in your ~/www/cgi-bin/library/tts/ directory). Look for the following lines near the beginning of the script:
      • #
# from whom does the email template get mailed
#
$from = "INSERT YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS HERE";


      Change the "INSERT YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS HERE" text to the e-mail address you would like to use as the return e-mail address for the template messages. Be sure to put a "\" before the "@" in your e-maill address. The Domain Name Modification Template Generator uses Perl version 5 which requires you to properly "escape" @ characters in strings.

3. Customize the Appearance of the Templates and Tools
   Two subroutines in the util.pl file are used to print out header and footer information. These functions are print_header_info and print_footer_info. Feel free to modify these functions such that the CGI outputs pages that are in synch with the motifs of the rest of your site.