How Do I Add a Name Server?

To add a name server, follow these steps, typically performed within your domain registrar's control panel:

1. Click on your domain name within your account.
2. Navigate to Advanced Technical Settings (the specific name may vary depending on your registrar).
3. Select "Manage Registered Name Servers." This option allows you to define your own nameservers.
4. Scroll down to the "REGISTER NAME SERVER" section.
5. Enter the desired prefix for the first nameserver (e.g., ns1). This creates the hostname for your nameserver (e.g., ns1.yourdomain.com).
6. Enter the IP address (A record) in the corresponding text box. This IP address is where your nameserver will actually reside.
7. Click "Continue" or a similar button to save the changes.

Explanation:

Name servers are essential for translating domain names (like example.com) into IP addresses (like 192.0.2.1), allowing users to access your website. Adding a name server involves creating a host record (A record) that links a hostname (e.g., ns1.example.com) to a specific IP address.

Example:

Let's say your domain is mydomain.com and you want to create two nameservers: ns1.mydomain.com and ns2.mydomain.com. You would:

• Register ns1.mydomain.com with the IP address 192.0.2.1.
• Register ns2.mydomain.com with the IP address 192.0.2.2.

After registering these name servers with your registrar, you would then point your domain (mydomain.com) to use ns1.mydomain.com and ns2.mydomain.com as its authoritative name servers. This is usually a separate option also found within your domain registrar's DNS management settings.

Important Considerations:

• Propagation Time: After making these changes, it can take up to 48 hours for the DNS changes to propagate across the internet.
• IP Addresses: You'll need two unique IP addresses for your nameservers if you intend to create two. These are generally provided by your hosting provider.
• Domain Registrar: The exact steps may vary slightly depending on your domain registrar (e.g., GoDaddy, Namecheap, Google Domains). Consult their documentation if you encounter any difficulties.
• cPanel Environments: If you are using a cPanel environment, this documentation provides more specific instructions.
• Glue Records: Adding nameservers in this manner is also referred to as creating glue records at your domain registrar. These glue records are what allows the outside world to find your nameservers.