Simple questions (I think) re:basic acc'ts to VPS

[rufus]

Hey, I have a few basic accounts set up right now, and I'd like to look at moving them to a VPS (need ODBC access thru PHP, primarily). Some questions first, though:

1. I understand that I'll have 3 IPs with a VPS, so I can set up the two sites, no problem. The thing is, on one of the accounts, they've got MX and A records set up. Is this possible with the VPS? Will this be done by Jaguar, or do I need to do it?

2. Assuming I set up multiple domain names, what's the deal with mail on domains? For example, I currently have some parked domains that I'd like to split out - will they then have their own email addresses, no longer being sent to a single email addy under the main domain's?

3. What's involved in adding extensions to PHP under a VPS (again, ODBC specifically)? I mean, is this something done via the CP, or do I need to get to the command line (I can, I'm willing, mostly curious).

Thanks, gang!!
- Toby

[jason]

1. I understand that I'll have 3 IPs with a VPS, so I can set up the two sites, no problem. The thing is, on one of the accounts, they've got MX and A records set up. Is this possible with the VPS? Will this be done by Jaguar, or do I need to do it?
The logic of the 3 IP's is that one would be for your sites, the other two would be for hosting your own DNS servers. Of course, I don't think you have to do this, but this is the intention. Multiple sites can share one IP address without a problem although sometimes it is desireable or necessary to have a dedicated unique IP for a site (SSL certificates need to be installed on a unique IP, for example).

It is possible to point multiple A records and MX records to a single IP. JPC already does this for all of there shared accounts. Each domain has an MX record pointed at the machines' shared IP address as well as an A record for each main site and subdomain hosted on that machine.


2. Assuming I set up multiple domain names, what's the deal with mail on domains? For example, I currently have some parked domains that I'd like to split out - will they then have their own email addresses, no longer being sent to a single email addy under the main domain's?
This all depends on the software you use or don't use on the VPS. If you use CPanel then yes, your parked domains can have their own email addresses. They can now with shared hosting here, too. If you use a different control panel then this is probably also possible these days, but check with the vendor first.


3. What's involved in adding extensions to PHP under a VPS (again, ODBC specifically)? I mean, is this something done via the CP, or do I need to get to the command line (I can, I'm willing, mostly curious).

Again, this will depend on what software you choose to run. WHM (the administrative arm of CPanel) lets you install a lot of standard packages (PHP, APache, etc.) through the web. Regardless, though, for less popular extensions (like ODBC) you may have no choice but to shell in and recompile PHP by yourself.

Hope these helped.

--Jason