Original Computing, LLC

A description of DNS server functionality, and the steps required to remove a domain from one.

What is a DNS server?
DNS (Domain Name System) is the protocol that is used by computer networks to translate IP (Internet Protocol) addresses into domain names. A DNS server is a computer specifically set up to be queried by other computers for the IP-to-domain translations. There are many kinds of records that can be associated with a specific domain name, but the ones of primary interest for this document are A records (used to point websites to the computers that host them) and MX records (used to point email to their appropriate server). The result of a DNS query is a resolved IP address. Every time a web page is loaded or an email is sent, at least one DNS query has resolved by a DNS server.

What is required to remove a listed domain?
For a DNS server to stop answering for a domain, records associated with the specific domain must be removed from the list of records the DNS server has. In most situations, the minimum numbers of records associated with a domain for a website and email to function is 4. One record for each of the following:

1. A record domain.com XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX (ip address)
2. A record www.domain.com XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX (ip address)
3. MX record domain.com {name of email server} {priority 1}
4. MX record domain.com {name of email different server} {priority 2}8

How can having incorrect DNS entries affect domain and email queries?
When a potential contact sends an email to a company with a hosted email service ({user}@domain.com), the email leaves the client machine (by email client such as Outlook, or web client such as Gmail) and arrives at their email server for processing. First, the email server checks itself to see if it is the destination. If it is the destination server, the email gets delivered to the appropriate domain and account. Otherwise, the email server then performs a DNS query and resolves the address of the hosted email server and delivers the message to it.

When a queried server does not answer for a domain, it should return a result of Unknown or Failed. When a queried server knows the result, it returns the requested record type

Have you ever wanted to quickly write a note on your site or publish a quick post without going through the login/webpage interface process? Great apps like BloGTK, Lekhonee, and Drivel having been making strides in terms of ease of use and functionality. Multi-site capabilities are simply not present in these early versions of these great pieces of free software, but for most people that is perfectly ok.

This post was made using Drivel. Whether you use WordPress, Live Journal, Blogger, Blogspot, or any blog using the RPC, Atom, or Movable publishing procotols, Drivel does the job.

So over the past few years we have been playing with WordPress as a blog, as an e-commerce solution, as a media outlet, and as business-managed sites. Through our time we’ve seen many things change with WordPress: the ability to install apps automatically hasn’t been there for long, changing from 1.6 to 2.2 was like dancing in heaven with theme abilities, and then the switch to 3.0.1 has made everything beautiful in the backend. We also have seen many plugins come and go as their support dwindled, or their user base diminished, but here is a list of some of the plugins that either stand our test of time, our are ground-breaking and stable enough for us to consider them mandatory.

Exec-Php

So many sites still use custom code, and many of ours do too. Exec-PHP lets us run that code without having to compromise any of the great features of WordPress (except for opening some security issues with weak user passwords…but thats another blog post).

Contact Form 7

Easy to use, admin-managed emailing plugin. Easily create and manage multiple kinds of contact forms for all parts of your site. Integrates seamlessly with Really Simple CAPTCHA (see below).

My Category Order

Drag and drop ordering of categories has never been easier. Theme dependent on whether or not it will work out of the box, but we can get it to work on any theme.

My Page Order

Same as above but drag and drop ordering of pages. Theme dependent on whether or not it will work out of the box, but we can get it to work on any theme. Stop manually adjust the page  metrics and get on with posting content! This plugin will help you.

Nextgen Gallery

One of the staple plugins of our toolkit. Provides slide shows, pop out images, image galleries and customizable permissions.

Really Simple Captcha

The name really says it all: really simple. It adds CAPTCHA image validation to your Contact Form 7 forms easily and works as desired.

Calendar

A simple, but clean calendar integrated fully into WordPress. Allows for recurring events and link outs, and multiple calendars. Perfect for almost any use.

HL Twitter

Have you ever wanted a feed of your tweets listed on your site while at the same time having the ability to filter and pull multiple Twitter feeds into this one location? HL Twitter for the rescue. Also some great tools for tweet databasing, and easy account sync with Twitter.

Ozh’ Admin Drop Down Menu

This plugin is a must for anyone who admins their sites via tablets or netbooks. I love those devices, but there is a less than ideal amount of screen space to work with. Admin Drop Down moves the left-hand WordPress menus to the top in a presentable javascript drop down menu.

Fluency Admin

Fluency Andmin is just about the most beautifying thing you can do to your WordPress backend. It cleans up the menus, and provides a smooth interface for all your administrative needs.

Theme My Login

Tired of the normal login page? Did you spend time and money on your theme only to have to look at something else when you log in? Well, Theme My Login fixes that, providing a basic page to log in by. Still needs custom code to hide it from the page list of some themes, but that’s not the plugins fault!

W3 Total Cache

WordPress is amazing! But at the same time, the same things that make it awesome make it slow. W3 Total Cache improves performance within minutes after install. Highly configurable, and tweak-able beyond our desires. We saw 300% speed increases in our sites by running this plugin, but the creator claims 1000% – either way, I’m happy.

WP DB Backup

Simple and straightforward database management program. Choices galore, automatic backups, multiple delivery methods.

Google Analyticator

The ultimate in Google Analytics tracking and integration. Monitor basic traffic data directly from your dashboard. Easily syncs to Google Accounts.