Re: Assigning a domain name

[Mark_Strawcutter <MJSTRAW@grove.iup.edu>]

IP address assignment/subnetting and DNS subdomains are two totally independent
problems with two totally independent solutions.

The structure of IP subnetting is a function of physical network topology.  The
structure of DNS subdomains is a function of administrative authority over
hosts.  The DNS A and PTR records define a mapping between them.

Example.  We have a classic inverted backbone.  Each building on campus has
it's own ethernet (or two) connected back to a hub router.  Each ethernet
is it's own IP subnet of our class B network.  So basically, IP subnetting
is by building.

We have two branch campus locations.  Since our regional network sits between
main campus and the branches, we couldn't use subnets of our class B for them.
Each one has it's own class C network (single building/ethernet at each
location).

All hosts at all 3 locations are part of domain iup.edu.  We assign 3rd level
domains by academic department or administrative office (who have
administrative authority over the hosts).  Departments can have machines in
many buildings, and a given building can have machines for many departments.

There is absolutely _no_ correlation between IP subnet and 3rd level subdomain.

----------
Mark J Strawcutter                           Internet:  mjstraw@grove.iup.edu 
Director, Systems and Communications         BITNET:    MJSTRAW@IUP
Indiana University of Pennsylvania           Voice:     (412) 357-4007
Indiana, PA   15705                          "you can't nail jello to a tree"