Category: Changes

Roller Network is pleased to announce the release of our newly updated Primary DNS service with several new features and an all new look. The new major features are:

• Templates (Personal Plus and higher).
• TSIG signed request support.
• Per-zone AXFR support.
• Added the SSHFP DNS record type.
• New layout using jQuery UI.

And enhancements:

• All record types can now be edited.
• Any default records can now be edited or deleted (defaults are now a template).
• Added AAAA records to the default template.
• Check that CNAME doesn’t exist with other records when adding a record.
• SOA SERIAL can be date-formatted or simple integer auto increment.
• SOA MNAME can now be changed.
• Many UI and functionality refinements.

We also had to switch to a new jQuery plugin-based main menu across the entire account control center because the old one broke when combined with jQuery UI. It’s much cleaner in the back end and requires less code, which is something that should have happened anyway, but unfortunately was one of those unexpected things that took extra time to deal with.

You may also notice a “DNSSEC” tab if you look closely; we haven’t enabled DNSSEC support just yet because we didn’t want to keep delaying these updates, but we’re working on it.

The new layout is based on jQuery and jQuery UI but does not strictly depend on it for core functionality. It should still work even in text-only command line browsers in a pinch. This new Primary DNS interface is a major visual change for us, mainly because it was impractical to cram all of the new features into the old static layout. We already sprinkled some jQuery into the colocation section, but the Primary DNS section will have a wider audience for feedback. Over time we plan to push this style of interface to all sections of the account control center.

Roller Network will no longer be offering new dedicated servers as a service option. We came to this decision after much thought over the work we have to put in to keeping the price/parts list up to date and hardware on hand compared to the actual number of dedicated server customers. We also had an issue with customers ordering a dedicated server and disappear after only paying a month or two of their term, leaving us unable to recover those costs. After putting these together it unfortunately no longer made sense for us to continue going down that path.

We want to stress that while we are no longer taking orders for new dedicated servers that all customers that currently have a dedicated server will continue to be supported under their original term agreement, although we will no longer be able to offer upgrades. At the end of their current term we will offer the following options:

• Convert the dedicated server into a colocation and transfer the hardware to the customer,
• Continue supporting it as a dedicated server for as long as we have spare parts to do so,
• Or discontinue service to seek a new provider.

There are no immediate changes that our current dedicated server customers will notice. The option to convert to colocation will, in most cases, result in a lower monthly cost. The only visible change in the account control center will be the retirement of the “dedicated servers” section and moving them under “colocation services” while retaining a dedicated server identifier.

We appreciate those that have a dedicated server and chose Roller Network for their service needs, and those that worked with us to create billing arrangements in times of hardship rather than abandoning their accounts. Please direct all questions to us by email at the normal support address.