Create my own nameserver for dynamic-DNS

Hi,

I’m currently hosted on HeartInternet. While their cheapest-package servers are far more powerful than I require, I’m frustrated that I’d have to pay extra to get MySQL support (amongst other things). I also currently use dynamic DNS (via dyn.org/afraid.org domains) to access my own computers.

If I were to move to DigitalOcean (which I most likely will), then I’d have total control over my server’s internal environment (hooray, databases!). Would I also be able to set up my own nameserver on the droplet, to enable a configuration similar to the following (specifically, the “dynamic” entries):

www.mydomain.co.uk => static: points to droplet, for LLMP or LAMP web server. ftps.mydomain.co.uk => static: points to droplet, for ftps. home.d.mydomain.co.uk => dynamic: my home IP address (NAT to handle things from there). work.d.mydomain.co.uk => dynamic: my office IP address (as above).

Basically, could I dump other dynamic DNS providers and have everything accessed via my domain name and my droplet?

Are there any existing guides on how to do anything like this with droplets?

Also, how easy would it be for me to migrate my email over? I don’t use the inbox on HeartInternet, everything that goes into it is pulled into my Gmail account, so I wouldn’t need to migrate any actual data from Heart’s email system. I’d presumably just need to set up an IMAP or POP server for Gmail to pull mail from, and let Gmail’s SMTP handle outgoing messages. Am I missing anything, or would it really be this simple to transfer my @mydomain.co.uk email over?

Thanks, Mark