This document contains essential information on how to make DNS changes to your website/account. Please read this document thoroughly. The topics include an important message for beginners, a DNS mini-course, an explanation (with examples) of: A, CNAME, NS, and MX reports and how to change DNS settings. There are several things you can do to avoid mistakes: 1. Read this document thoroughly. 2. Make sure you understand what A, CNAME, NS, and MX records do. 3. Contact your hosting company for additional help and guidance. 4. Don’t make a significant change without help. With a little practice, you’ll find that making DNS changes is very easy.
DNS mini-course
DNS (Domain Name Servers) tells computers how to find each other over the internet. When you type an address into your browser, your ISP (Internet Service Provider) will check with the DNS to determine where it’s being sent to. > http://www.domain.com — Check with DNS —> DNS says domain.com=192.168.0.1 —> You will be taken to the website.
Why does this happen?
It happens because your domain name won’t always have the same IP address. Every server on the internet has an IP address (a numeric address like a phone number). Every time you change a web host, you change servers (and therefore changing IP addresses). Domain name servers keep logs of your domain and which IP address (server) it should point to. Why do I need to report my web host servers (DNS) in my domain? As you learned above, the name servers tell the internet how to find you. When you modify the name servers in your file, you tell the Internet which name server provides the most up-to-date information. If you don’t change the name servers in your domain file (let’s say you’re using DNS from your old web host), then your website will point to a server that doesn’t receive your domain. Or, if the old web host removed you from their DNS, your domain won’t work at all.
Why is it taking so long for my site to start working?
When you change web hosts (addresses) or register a domain name for the first time, the new DNS information must reach every other name server (DNS) on the Internet. Your site can be up and running in as little as 4 hours, but the normal wait time is 24 -72 hours. This delay occurs because most name servers (DNS) prefer to check updates periodically. Periodic checking is done because constant checking often slows down the server. Why does my domain point to my old host when I canceled my subscription with them? There can be several reasons for this: 1. Their name servers are still in your domain file. Solution: Update your domain file with the new name servers (DNS). 2. They did not remove your domain file from their name servers. Solution: Ask them if they want to delete your domain file (DNS) or follow solution #1 if you have a new web host. 3. The DNS propagation has not yet taken place. Solution: Wait 24-72 hours and contact your hosting company if the problem persists. Why can some people get to my site, but I can’t? Their ISP has more updated DNS records than your ISP. Please be patient as your new site will appear within 24-72 hours Is there a way I can view my site without the DNS having changed? Yes. You can access your site at http://ip.address/~username and at the control panel at http://ip.address/config. Editing the DNS Settings At the control panel, click on “DNS Menu” to access the DNS settings. Above is an example of the DNS settings for site-helper.com. The following sections provide information on changing A, CNAME, NS, Mx, and PTR records. Meanwhile, it’s important to understand how the control panel treats host names. Important: There are two ways to enter a hostname: 1. Full hostname that is closed by a period: full.hostname.com. 2. Subdomain only: full For example: the first record in the list above shows: admin A 216.194.67.119 or admin.site-helper.com. A 216.194.67.119 Both records do the same thing. The sections below can only discuss one method, but both are acceptable. Hint: If you’re not sure how to enter a record, look in the existing records in the list for guidance. Records explained: A, CNAME, NS, MX, and PTR.
A RECORDS
Address (A) records associate a hostname with a numeric IP address. For example, if you want mycomputer.yourdomain.com to point to your home computer (for example: 192.168.0.3), you would create a record that looks like this: Important: You should put a period after the hostname, but not after IP addresses.
CNAME RECORDS
CNAME allows a machine to be recognized by one or more host names. There should always be an A- record first, and this is known as a canonical, or official name. For example: yourdomain.com. A 192.168.0.1 When using CNAME, you can address other host names to the canonical (A record) address. For example: ftp.yourdoman.com. CNAME yourdomain.com. mail.yourdomain.com. CNAME yourdomain.com. ssh.yourdomain.com. CNAME yourdomain.com. CNAME records make it possible to access your domain by ftp.yourdomain.com, mail.yourdomain.com, etc. Without a proper CNAME record, you will not be able to connect to your server if you use such addresses. Entering a CNAME record
If we wanted to point home.site-helper.com to site-helper.com, we can enter it in two ways: The first method allows you to enter subdomain easily. Don’t put a stop to the subdomain name. The second method requires you to enter the full host name, followed by a dot NAMESERVER (NS) RECORDS The NS records specify the official name servers for the domain. Important: Changing NS records may cause your site to stop working. It is generally not necessary to change NS records.
Entering an NS record
The first step is to remove the old NS records from the list above. Then enter the two new name server records. Be sure to put a period after the nameserver hostname in a NS record (ns1.newnameserver.com. and not ns1.newnameserver.com ).
MX RECORDS
Free email services like gmail.com require that MX changes must be made for the software to work. This change allows mail destined for your domain to be routed to their server. Please note that changing MX reports will prevent the functioning of your POP3 accounts, forwarders, autoresponders and mailing lists. To change an MX record, go to the “Email Menu” of the control panel. Then click on “MX Records”. First, delete the old MX record by clicking the checkbox and clicking “Delete Selected” next to the record name. There should now be no MX listed records. Then you type in the host name, followed by a dot, which was provided to you by your email provider. Then select the priority level (usually 10) from the dropdown box on the right. The priority level will also be given to you by the email provider. Click “Add.” Note: Check if you have placed a period after the host name. To restore the original MX settings, type uwdomeinnaam.com. and priority 0 after deleting the other MX record.
PTR RECORDS
Pointer reports (PTR) are used for reverse lookups. For example, to point 192.168.0.1 to www.uwdomeinnaam.com, the record will look like this: 1.0.168.192.in-addr.arpa PTR www.uwdomeinnaam.com. Note: The IP address is reversed in the first field. Use a period after your host name. (second field). The “in-addr-arpa” method is the most commonly used. Important: PTR reports are only effective if your site has its own [dedicated] IP address.
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