Advice for DNS Clustering Setup

[DIYHosting]

I would like to set up DNS clustering between my 3 cPanel servers and was hoping to get some advice on it's setup before jumping in to anything.

Currently they are set up as follows:

Server1: ns1 ns2
Server2: ns3 ns4
Server3: ns5 ns6 (this server is in a different data center than 1&2)

I was thinking that I should have the clustering set up like this:

Server1 sync to Server3
Server2 sync to Server1
Server3 sync to Server1

I was than think of creating 2 new nameservers, dns1 and dns2, with dns1 pointing to a Server1 ip and dns2 pointing to a Server3 ip, so that it would not interfere with my customers currently using ns1-6.

If I set up the DNS clustering in this manner would it be correct and a smart way to do it?

Is it possible to change my ns1-6 nameservers to point to a Server1 ip and a Server3 ip without messing up anything or creating downtime. If the ns1-6 nameservers are still created on each server would this be a problem?

Thank you for your help!

[dalem]

I sync all of my DNS servers

ns1 on server 1
ns2 on server 2
ns3 on server 3
ns4 on server 1
ns5 on server 2
ns6 on server 3

I did a simlar thing you are doing as I have 8 name servers running between two clustered servers rather than have users change ther DNS just continued using the old dns using 2 ip's (sharing) using only ns3 and ns4 as my primary between all clustered DNS

[spaceman]

I sync all of my DNS servers

ns1 on server 1
ns2 on server 2
ns3 on server 3
ns4 on server 1
ns5 on server 2
ns6 on server 3

I did a simlar thing you are doing as I have 8 name servers running between two clustered servers rather than have users change ther DNS just continued using the old dns using 2 ip's (sharing) using only ns3 and ns4 as my primary between all clustered DNS

Sorry if this is not crystal clear to me, but when you say "I sync all of my DNS servers" do you mean that every server is sync'd with every other server? If so, then let's say you were to obtain another server. Would you then have to go to WHM > Configure Cluster for each and every existing server and add the new server's IP?

I have 3 servers that look like this:

server 1 : ns
server 2 : ns2
server 3 : (no name server)

So can I assume your advice would be to
1. add ns3 to server 3
2. sync server 1 with 2+3, server 2 with 1+3, and server 3 with 1+2

Thanks for your feedback.

P.S. Has anyone written a good manual on optimal dns clustering configurations for multiple WHM servers???

[DIYHosting]

I also setup a copy of DNSONLY on a old, local box and then changed my cluster to work in this manner:

Server1 -> Server2
Server2 -> Server3
Server3 -> DNSONLY
DNSONLY -> Server1

That seems to work great, however I'm not sure if I should alter my original nameservers or just leave them be and just create new ones which will point to IPs from the different servers.

[dalem]

DIYHosting" lay out should work for should work for you

but if you are only intend on running only 2 NS then they way you have now is fine if i am reading your post correct