User Guide

30 Novell DNS/DHCP Management Utility Administration Guide
Novell DNS/DHCP Management Utility Administration Guide
103-000164-001
September 4, 2001
Novell Confidential
Manual 99a38 July 17, 2001
Domain Names
The domain name represents an entity's position within the structure of the
DNS hierarchy. A domain name is simply a list of all domains in the path from
the local domain to the root. Each label in the domain name is delimited by a
period. For example, the domain name for the Providence domain within
Company A is providence.companya.com, as shown in Figure 4, “Domains
and Subdomains,” on page 29 and the list below.
Note that the domain names in the figure end in a period, representing the root
domain. Domain names that end in a period for root are called fully qualified
domain names (FQDNs).
Each computer that uses DNS is given a DNS hostname that represents the
computer's position within the DNS hierarchy. Therefore, the hostname for
host1 in Figure 4 on page 29 is host1.washington.companya.com.
Domain Delegation
Domain delegation gives an organization authority for a domain. Having
authority for a domain means that the organization's network administrator is
responsible for maintaining the DNS database of hostname and address
information for that domain.
A group of domains and subdomains for which an organization has authority
is called a zone. All host information for a zone is maintained in a single,
authoritative database.
For example, the companya.com. domain is delegated to Company A, creating
the companya.com. zone. There are three subdomains within the
companya.com. domain:
 chicago.companya.com.
 washington.companya.com.
 providence.companya.com.
The Company A administrator maintains all host information for the zone in
a single database and also has authority to create and delegate subdomains.
For example, Company A's Chicago location has its own network
administrator. The companya.com administrator delegates the
chicago.companya.com zone to the Chicago location and no longer has
authority over it. Company A now has two zones: companya.com and
chicago.companya.com.