The Domain Name System (DNS) matches numeric IP addresses with more descriptive names.

The DNS consists of a hierarchy of domains, or groups of computers on the Internet. Within each domain, the individual hosts on the network have their own unique numeric names.

For example, silvia@company.com represents the user "silvia" in the "company.com" domain. Other common domains include ".edu" for educational organizations, ".gov" for government, and ".org" for non-profits.

This system requires each domain to have a name server that matches numeric IP addresses to their more descriptive counterparts, or DNS names. Information is shared across domain name servers as needed.

DNS and AppleShare IP

As the AppleShare IP administrator, if you want your users to be able to enter domain names instead of numeric IP addresses, you need to provide domain name service for the computers on your network (even if your intranet is not connected to the Internet).

You also need to provide domain name service if you use any Internet-standard mail service. Mail applications use DNS to look up recipients' mail servers, which are stored as MX (mail exchange) records.

Setting up DNS on your network

You can use any standard DNS service on your network. If you don't have DNS server software, you can use MacDNS, an application that comes with AppleShare IP. See the MacDNS Administrator's Guide in the MacDNS folder, inside the AppleShare IP 6.3 folder on your server's hard disk.

Related topic

AppleShare IP mail server and DNS configuration http://til.info.apple.com/techinfo.nsf/artnum/n24693