linux dns resolver

Hey all! I've been learning how to set up a linux web server. I've been finding setting up apache not too bad...but DNS is killing me...

The nameserver and the webserver will be on the same box. I was able to get my www root domain to be 'pingable', and the apache returns the page ok, but, I was trying to add another host in the bind prog, and it seems that I can't ping that for the life of me. both www host and 2nd host are configured in my zone file...one works one doesn't...

This type of DNS setup is very new to me. Would anyone recommend just editing the conf files manually?; or would you recommend using the x config progs (bind and apache)?

Any straight ahead advice would be sweet. Just right to the point - web server and ns on one machien....thanks