Sleepy DNS server

We set up our own DNS server. It's been working great for several weeks,
except for one oddity. The machine appears to go to sleep, apparently after
long periods of inactivity. I've noticed this with the subdomains we started
building. We have the top domain companyname.com and now a subdomain
cityname.companyname.com. It worked fine the first time we tested it;
redirected to a server in another state as required by the DNS record. Then
this morning someone tried a browser request and ended up at another
subdomain instead. So I did a ping test that at least indicated the correct
IP address for the remote server in another state. So I tried it again with
my browser and got the correct page. This seems to confirm what my manager
had told me that the DNS server didn't always seem to respond correctly on
the first request. He set up a little automated routine on a UNIX server
elsewhere in the building that sends a request to the DNS server once per
minute, but that may not have solved the problem. I've eliminated the
possibility of the browser caching pages. Any tips? TIA.

Keith Purtell, Web Designer
VantageMed (Kansas City office)

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