DNS
When the server hosts your domain's DNS, you manage its zone in the panel: which IP address the website answers on, where mail goes, and text records such as SPF and DKIM. Changes reach the server's DNS service a few seconds after you save them.
The tool needs the DNS area in your role, and changes need the plan permission DNS zone management.
Open the DNS settings#
- Open the website (Websites & Domains, then Manage next to the domain).
- Click DNS Settings.
The page shows the Zone with its type, the State and the Serial with the time of the last change, followed by the list of records with Host, Type, Value and TTL.
For a subdomain, the page says that its records live in the zone of the parent domain.
If the domain has no zone on this server, click Create the zone. The zone is created from the server's template.
Default records#
A new zone gets the records of the server's zone template. By default these are:
| Host | Type | Value |
|---|---|---|
| (domain) | A | the subscription's IP address |
www | CNAME | the domain |
mail, webmail | A | the subscription's IP address |
ftp | CNAME | the domain |
ns1, ns2 | A | the subscription's IP address |
| (domain) | NS | ns1.<domain>, ns2.<domain> |
| (domain) | MX | mail.<domain>, priority 10 |
| (domain) | TXT | v=spf1 +a +mx -all |
_dmarc | TXT | v=DMARC1; p=none |
An AAAA record is added when the subscription has an IPv6 address. Your provider may use a different template.
Add or change a record#
- Click Add Record, or Edit next to an existing record.
- Choose the Record type:
A,AAAA,CNAME,MX,NS,TXT,SRV,CAAorPTR. - Enter the Host: empty for the domain itself, or a name such as
wwwormail. - For
MXandSRV, enter the Priority; forSRValso Weight and Port. - Enter the Value:
| Type | Value |
|---|---|
A | IPv4 address |
AAAA | IPv6 address |
CNAME | Host name this name points to |
MX | Mail server host name |
NS | Name server host name |
TXT | Text, for example v=spf1 +a +mx -all |
SRV | Target host name |
CAA | For example 0 issue "letsencrypt.org" |
- Optionally set the TTL in seconds;
0uses the zone's default. - Click Add or Save.
To remove records, tick them and click Remove. Use Search records to find records in a large zone.
MX records#
MX records tell other servers where to deliver mail for the domain. With mail hosted here, keep the default MX record pointing at mail.<domain>. To use an outside mail service, replace it with the MX records that service gives you, and switch off Mail service for the domain on the Mail page's Mail Settings tab so this server stops accepting mail for it.
SPF and DKIM#
SPF lists the servers allowed to send mail for the domain. The default TXT record v=spf1 +a +mx -all allows the domain's own address and its mail servers. If you also send mail through another service, add that service's part to the same record, as it tells you. Keep a single SPF record per domain.
DKIM signs outgoing mail. Switch it on per domain on the Mail page: Mail Settings › Change › Sign outgoing mail with DKIM. When this server hosts the DNS zone, the panel publishes the key as a TXT record at <selector>._domainkey.<domain> by itself. The Mail Settings tab then shows the DKIM signing selector with "published in DNS", and the SPF and DMARC records in use.
If your DNS is hosted elsewhere, the Mail Settings tab shows the exact DKIM record to add at your DNS provider.
Other zone settings#
| Button | Effect |
|---|---|
| SOA Record | The zone's refresh, retry, expire, minimum and TTL values, Administrator email and Serial number format |
| DNS Service | Primary (this server answers), Secondary (copy the zone from another primary server at Primary server IP) or Off |
| Reset to Default | Replaces every record you added or changed with the template's records |
Use this server's DNS#
For the zone to take effect, your domain registrar must list this server's name servers for the domain. The website's Connection Info tool shows the Name servers to enter at the registrar. If it says "This server does not serve the domain's DNS zone", the domain's DNS is hosted elsewhere and records must be changed there.
Troubleshooting#
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| Changes do not show on the internet | Wait for the TTL of the old record to pass; check the registrar uses this server's name servers |
| The state shows an error | The message next to it explains why; correct the record and save again |
| "Your hosting plan does not allow this." | The plan does not include DNS zone management |
Related#
- Websites and domains
Something missing? Ask in the community or open a ticket.