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Volume Number: 17
Issue Number: 05
Column Tag: KoolTools

QuickDNS 3.0

by Ben Baumer

Men and Mice's QuickDNS Pro software, which is already the industry standard for the Macintosh, just got better. With version 3.0, Men and Mice have continued in their own footsteps by providing a stable, user-friendly DNS server application. This time, however, they've added a snazzy new look and a remote administration client, which is a godsend for anyone (like me) who is either lazy, or using a remote DNS server.

The first thing you'll notice about QuickDNS 3.0 is the spiffy new appearance of the icon and the server window. This does not, of course, bring any added functionality, but I liked it anyway.

Other than the face-lift, the QuickDNS Pro Server application does not appear to have changed at all on the outside; it still has the same relatively small number of menu options and preferences.

However, the big change with version 3.0 comes in the administration application, whose name has changed from Admin to Manager. The Manager has a new name, a new look, and several new features, the most potentially advantageous of which is the ability to administer QuickDNS servers remotely. Along with your QuickDNS 3.0 installation comes the QuickDNS Pro Remote application, which is a tiny, hidden background application that runs alongside the server and allows the Manager to connect via TCP/IP. Once logged in, the Manager can make changes to the DNS configuration on as many servers as he is connected to. Since most primary DNS servers have at least one secondary server, the ability to manage all of them at the same time (especially when some are remote) is particularly powerful. One caveat is that neither QuickDNS Pro 3.0 nor the QuickDNS Remote application will run on a 68k machine, so you will need to upgrade your old systems to PowerPCs before upgrading your QuickDNS software.

The QuickDNS Pro Manager has also streamlined some of the features of the old QuickDNS Pro Admin. When you call up a domain window, you will see the header information at the top, rather than having to open up a second window, as was necessary under the older application. Also, the domain name itself (in this example, mactech.com) is ghosted out in each of the records, to help you concentrate on the important stuff.

Another helpful new feature in the domain window is a sort function, which allows you to sort your records by name or type. If you have a large number of IP addresses in one of your domains, this will be a welcome addition in organizing your reverse records.

All in all, QuickDNS Pro 3.0 is a must-have upgrade. Unless you are relying on 68k machines as your DNS servers, QuickDNS Pro 3.0 will make your life a lot easier to manage. Not only is the new appearance a worthwhile change, but the Remote and Manager applications (when used in tandem) provide a marked improvement in ease-of-administration that you will quickly make you forget how you ever did without it.