Hello,

I am trying to learn how to set up our Windows 2003 Server to host multiple web sites as well as host our internal (comanyweb) site. Currently the server is the DC and has the DNS program installed. When the DNS was originally installed the domain was set to mycompany.local as it was only used for internal (local) stuff. I now however want to use the DNS for hosting web sites as well. I have found some guides out there, but all of them start from scratch with installing the DNS software so you get to set up your domain at the beginning. I am not sure if I need to change my domain from mycompany.local to mycompany.com and if so what effect this will have on the internal (companyweb) website.

Currently the server is behind a router (static IP from out internet provider) and assigned a static IP using the 10.0.x.x naming convention. The server is our DHCP server and assigns IPs to the other computers on our network. It also functions as our internet proxy for whitelist reasons.

How do I:

1. Go about configuring this server to act as an internal and multiple external web server. DNS zones, Host records, etc?

2. Register the DNS with registrar?

3. Configure the router to port the external static IP to the web server?

4. Do anything else needed :) ?

Regards,
Aaron J. Wood

First, you DO NOT need to rename the domain - you setup the domain according to what many experts consider best practices.

Now, to host multiple sites, you just need to specify what host header each one should respond to. I suggest reviewing this link for more information on configuring IIS to host multiple web sites:
http://www.visualwin.com/host-header/

As for DNS, you need a PUBLIC DNS record to point whatever web sites you want at your public IP on your server. You CAN host DNS yourself, but if the domains are registred, then they are probably at least parked somewhere and they will have DNS services already available, likely for free. All you want to do is point www.yourdomainname.com to your public IP address.

Finally, you will need to configure the router to point port 80 to the web server.

NOTE: if you want to use FTP sites (I don't recommend it) then you will need MULTIPLE IP addresses, but web sites can be hosted on just one.

Do NOT rename your intranet site to a routable top level domain, such as .com or .net. For security reasons, always use .local for internal use. There is no Authoritative root DNS server for .local so it would be impossible for an attacker to acquire internal IP's and hostnames with a zone transfer.

"Foolproof systems don't take into account the ingenuity of fools."