System information

32 Chapter 2 Getting Ready for Mac OS X Server
Conditions that aect DNS setup
If users will only access your server from your local network
Your server can provide DNS service for your local network (IP subnet). This local DNS service is
congured automatically during initial server setup if no existing DNS service can be found for
your server. The local DNS service has an entry for the DNS name and IP address you specify for
your server during initial setup.
In order for your clients to use the local DNS service that your server provides, you may need to
congure this local DNS service and your DHCP server (usually your network router) after you
nish initial server setup. If this applies to you, you’ll nd more information in the Mac OS X Server
Next Steps document that’s generated and placed on the server’s desktop after initial setup.
If your server’s local DNS service is all you need, you can skip to the next topic, “Setting Up DHCP
for Your Server” on page 35.
If you don’t have a domain name like example.com
You need a registered Internet domain like example.com if you want to allow Internet users to
access services by name. You can purchase one through your ISP or from a public registrar of
domain names. Ask the registrar to congure the domain to point to your server’s IP address.
For information about domain name registrars, search the web.
If your server doesn’t have a registered DNS name like myserver.example.com
Work with your ISP, the IT department in your organization, or the public registrar where you
obtained your domain to assign your server a meaningful DNS name. The server’s DNS name is
the basis for the addresses of all services that users get from the server, including email, iChat, iCal,
address book, wiki, le sharing, blog, webmail, and VPN.