I have most of my Domains registered through Google, I was trying to accomplish a simple task, getting some custom nameservers to respond properly to “whois” inquires. This proved really difficult.
Reggie11:29 PM
Thank you for contacting Google Domains. How may I assist you today?
me11:30 PMHello, I have created glue records for ns1.tfmm.co and ns2.tfmm.co, and these are working, as my custom nameservers work without issue. However, running a “whois” on either of these returns a “Not Found” error. Is there any way to have these custom nameserver s setup so the proper data shows in a whois?
Reggie11:30 PMLet me check Russ.May I have the name of the domain concerned?
me11:31 PMtfmm.coas stated previously.
Reggie11:32 PMPlease provide me with a Support PIN so I can check the set up.
me11:32 PMPINNUMBER
Reggie11:33 PMThank you! Can you give me a minute or two while I check this for you?
me11:33 PMsure
Reggie11:36 PMI see that the name servers are set on both the Name Servers section and the Registered hosts section.It just needs to be set on one of them.Please delete the ones under the Registered hosts section, but plase take note of the IP addresses first.That way, we can easily put them back if we need them.
me11:36 PMIf i remove them from the registered hosts, they will no longer work…do you have any grasp of how DNS actually works?
Reggie11:37 PMYes, I do.
me11:37 PMas I’m using custom nameservers that are on the same domain, tfmm.co, the registered hosts must be listed as it cannot lookup the IPs of the nameservers if it can’t find the nameserver s.
Reggie11:38 PMThey’re already listed under the Name servers section.
me11:38 PMright, but there are no IPs defined theretherefore, when it tries to reach those nameservers, it will not know on which IPs they reside
Reggie11:39 PMFor Registered hosts, what’s to be added there are name servers when a domain’s name servers serve on one of its subdomains.
me11:39 PMwhich is the case herethe domain is tfmm.cothe nameservers are ns1.tfmm.co and ns2.tfmm.co
Reggie11:39 PMSince you’ve pointed the domain to the Name servers using the Name server’s section, the IP addresses should be defined on the name servers end.
me11:41 PMwhich they areyou are not understanding me The nameservers for tfmm.co are: “ns1.tfmm.co” and “ns2.tfmm.co”. This means that the “Registere d hosts” section MUST Contain the IPs of these nameserver s for DNS on the domain to work. If I remove these, DNS will not resolve as there is no way to know on which IPs ns1.tfmm.co and ns2.tfmm.co reside.
Reggie11:41 PMDoing a WHOIS search on who.is, I see NS1.TFMM.CO and NS2.TFMM.CO listed as the name servers of the domain.
me11:41 PMcorrectbut do a whois search on ns1.tfmm.coand you will see the error to which I was originally referring.
Reggie11:42 PMI tried it on who.is and the site is not responding to the request.
me11:43 PMare you on a Linux or Mac workstation? it can be done from command line
Reggie11:43 PMThat’s because, a WHOIS search is only used for searching information about domain names.
me11:43 PMNO IT IS NOT. I work in the web-hosting industry i deal with this every dayif you do a whois search for another nameserver which I control, it returns proper information “ns3.REDACTED.COM”
Reggie11:43 PMI used a DIG tool and was able to detect ns1.tfmm.co.
me11:44 PMDIG is not the same as whoisat allnot even close
Reggie11:44 PMAllow me to place you on hold for this for a minute or two. Will that be okay for you?
me11:45 PMyes
Reggie11:45 PMBecause this is the information I got after doing a DIG: ns1.tfmm.co. 3600 IN A 72.52.191. 85 The IP address on the DIG tool is the same as the IP addresses listed in the Registered hosts section.
me11:46 PMRight, I am not worried about DIG
Reggie11:46 PMBut please give me a minute or two to seek calrification for this.
me11:46 PMI would like WHOIS to respond properly to requests.
Reggie11:49 PMRussell,thank you for waiting. I just spoke with my Senior Specialist and got the confirmation that WHOIS searches are only done ir you’re looking for informatio n about a domain name. Not for searching name servers.
me11:50 PMThen your Senior Specialist is also incorrectI quite literally deal with this on a daily basisa whois of a nameserver should provide the same basic information as a whois of the domain, with the addition of the Domain registrar info, and any IPs that correspond to the nameserver .
Reggie11:51 PMOkay. I tired it on who.is and I think I was able to get some information.
me11:52 PMfor instance, this is a whois of another nameserver I control: LINK REDACTEDReggie left group chat.Reggie joined group chat.
Reggie11:53 PMBut, there really is no need to define the IP addresses on the Google Domains page because these IP addresses are already defined on the name servers end.
me11:53 PMSeriously?I need to speak to a supervisor please.
Reggie11:53 PMI can assure you that your site will still resolve without adding the name servers under the Registered hosts section.
me11:54 PMI can assure you it will not.
Reggie11:55 PMOkay. I’ll add my supervisor to our conversation. I’ve added Led to our conversation. He’s one of our Senior Specialists. He will take over from here.
me11:55 PMOk.Led joined group chat.
me11:56 PMOk Led, do you know how DNS works, because if not, I’m going to need your supervisor.
Led11:56 PMOh, yes. Allow me to assist you with your concern, Russell.Let me read on through your chat conversation with Reggie, Hold on
Led12:01 AMOkay, let’s see here.Apologies for the confusion, Russell. Yes, you’ll definitely need to add your name servers under the Registered hosts section and define their respective IP addresses. Also, please use Google Domains’ name servers in order for it to work since you’ll be “registering” those name servers using your domain name as well.
me12:01 AMI cannot use Google’s nameservers, as I have a highly custom setup with this domain that Google Domains does not support. Reggie left group chat.
Led12:03 AMI see, Russell. If that’s the case, I suggest to look for a DNS host provider that perhaps have the setup you’re looking for.
me12:03 AMRight, I have thatusing custom nameservers
Led12:04 AMMay I know by the way the feature’s that aren’t supported on Google Domains?As I’d be happy to file those as features requests on your behalf and pass it to our Technical Specialists for evaluation .
me12:04 AMI very custom dynamic dns updater that i wrote specifically for one applicatio n it isn’t something i’d expect support for
Led12:06 AMWow, cool!Okay. So if you’re using the name servers that’s currently provided by your DNS host provider, I suggest to “register” as well the name servers on their end. Since that’s where the resource records of your domain are currently located.Not on Google Domains. This will not work if you don’t use Google Domains’ respective name servers.
me12:07 AMI run my own DNS server cluster for this application. The cluster is located on ns1.tfmm.co and ns2.tfmm.co All I want, is for a whois on those 2 nameservers to return the proper informatio n
Led12:10 AMHmm.. Based on this particular DNS checker, most are fine. There’s an error indicating that your name servers are in different subnets though.http://www.intodns.com/tfmm.coAnd currently, since you’re using your custom name servers, I highly suggest to perhaps check again the configuration of your name servers. Since that’s were your domain’s resource records are located. Not on Google Domains.
me12:10 AMRight, but if you do a “whois ns1.tfmm.co” from a command line on a Linux or Mac OSX box, you will see the error.
Led12:11 AMAnd may I know the error message you’re referring to?
me12:11 AM$ whois ns1.tfmm.co
Not found: ns1.tfmm.cowhen a whois on another custom nameserver I have works as expected: LINK REDACTED
Led12:15 AMI see, Russell. Well, I can load your domain’s site fine on my end though.As with regard to the WHOIS information you’re referring to, changes on your domain name takes some time to take effect. Has it been 24-48 hours already?
me12:15 AMIt has been several weeks.
Led12:16 AMI see. Well, Russell, to reiterate, you should use Google’s name servers if you wish to register ns1/ns2.tfmm.co and use those.Otherwise, you’ll really need to register those on your DNS host provider or literally from your own server that you run as you’ve mentioned earlier.
me12:17 AMI will have to investigate this further at a later date, I need to go.
Led12:17 AMOkay, Russell.Is there anything else I can possibly help you with today?
REALLY? These people work for Google, and don’t understand basic DNS?!?!?!?!