Ok,my server is up anr running and reachable by IP address. I've registered a domain name, and have both DNS servers for this domain name. I've given the box a hostname (web@domain.com) What do I do next? -How can I get the DNS servers (supplied by a third party) to resolve "www.mydomain.com to my web server? Do i just put the supplied DNS servers into my /etc/resolv.conf file? If so, how will this affect the DNS entries I had in there already that were issued to me by my ISP? Thanks

Ok, i've removed my ISPs DNS servers from /etc/resolv.conf and replaced them with the following: domain mydomain.com nameserver x.x.x.x nameserver x.x.x.x Do I need to change anything else? Like the hostname of the server? Correct me if im wrong, but my domain name wont propogate for atleast 24hrs, right?

I've never set up my own webserver but have registered numerous domain names and had them pointed to other webservers. So I think that I understand what you need to do and if I understand what you are saying correctly, you are missing a step. Forgive me if I'm explaing stuff that you already understand, but they way I read your posts, it sounds like you've missed this step. Each domain name has an "Authoritative DNS". This is the one DNS in the world that is 'authorized' to change the IP address for this domain name. Without this concept, what would stop me from changing your domain name's IP address in my DNS and having it propagate around the world? When you register the domain name, the "Auth. DNS" is the registrar (Verisign, register.com, GoDaddy.com, etc). To get the domain pointed to your webserver you do one of two things: 1 - you tell the registrar to change the IP for the domain to the new IP address but leave the registrar as the "Auth. DNS". When you do it this way, you have to go back to the registrar's website if you ever need to change the IP. 2 - you tell the registrar to change the "Auth. DNS" to a different DNS and inside the new DNS you assign the new IP address. You do both of the above by going to the registrar's website and accessing the account for your domain name. Some will send an email to the registered email address that must be confirmed before they will make the change. The official time frame is 72 hrs but for me in the last year or so, they usually start working within 24 hours. This is my understanding of how this all works. It may not be 100% correct, but I have successfully changed the IP of 10 or so domains, so it's at least basically correct.

Don you were exactly right. I had to go to the registrar (in this case, domainmonger.com). All I had to do was type in my web server IP address on a form and they did the rest. 3hrs later my website, sporting the new domain name, is up and running. Thanks for your help!