Most of the people have problems configuring their website. After registering their domain, many get confused in configuring their domain (basically the DNS settings). This small tutorial will help you get started with DNS settings configuration.

A domain can be basically pointed to a server using 2 main techniques.

1. Nameserver (the most recommended way)
2. A Address (Not recommended)

Configuring using Nameservers
====================

Login to your domain Control panel provided by your DOMAIN NAME PROVIDER / REGISTRAR. Not your webhost.

Search for settings like DNS. In that you must find an option to set NAMESERVERS.

You might be presented with fields to fill up like :-

NAMESERVER 1 : _____________ IP : ___________
NAMESERVER 2 : _____________ IP : ___________
NAMESERVER 3 : _____________ IP : ___________
NAMESERVER 4 : _____________ IP : ___________
NAMESERVER 5 : _____________ IP : ___________
NAMESERVER 6 : _____________ IP : ___________
...
...
...

IP is optional. Some registerars require it. Some don't.

Nameservers are in following format. XXX.YYYYYYYYY.ZZZ
In which, XXX can be anything as set by webhost.
YYYYYYYYY.ZZZ is a domain owned by webhost.


The IP address is usually provided. But if you don't have the IP, obtaining the IP is very simple. Go to Start Menu => Click RUN

Enter "ping XXX.YYYYYYYY.ZZZ"
For ComputingHost, If you enter ping ns1.computinghost.com
You will get an output like :-

FOR NS1


FOR NS2


Therefore, Nameserver IPs for NS1.COMPUTINGHOST.COM is 64.69.35.170
and NS2.COMPUTINGHOST.COM is 64.69.35.177.

Now, that you know your IP, You enter it at your Host.

NAMESERVER 1 : NS1.COMPUTINGHOST.COM IP : 64.69.35.170
NAMESERVER 2 : NS2.COMPUTINGHOST.COM IP : 64.69.35.177
NAMESERVER 3 : _____________ IP : ___________
NAMESERVER 4 : _____________ IP : ___________
NAMESERVER 5 : _____________ IP : ___________
NAMESERVER 6 : _____________ IP : ___________
.....
....
...


PLEASE DON'T GET CONFUSED BY THE NS1,NS2 ETC. IT CAN BE ANYTHING.

If you apply for Windows Hosting, You get Different Nameserver Address like :-

NS4.COMPUTINGHOST.COM
NS5.COMPUTINGHOST.COM

When entering them at your Domain Registrar, You enter it in the following way :-

**WRONG WAY**


**RIGHT WAY**


ALSO, REMOVE ANY PREVIOUSLY SET NAMESERVERS!!!

CLEAR EVERYTHING WHICH IS PREVIOUSLY PRESENT IN THOSE SETTINGS!!

THE NAMESERVER FIELD MUST HAVE NAMESERVERS POINTING TO ONLY ONE COMPANY.

The precedence goes from top to bottom. If nameserver 1 fails, Nameserver 2 is contacted. If NS2 fails, Ns3 is contacted. So, If you NS1 has nameservers pointing to previous host, it will continue doing so. If you want to point to your new host, it should be at Nameserver 1 postition.

======= PART 2 =======
Configuring using A - Address
====================

The A Address pointing is directly telling the registrar to point the domain to IP address. The resolving work will be done at the Domain registerars hands.

Basically, after you register with a webhost, you will be given an IP address for your website. When configuring with A-Address, you have to enter this IP Address.

Suppose, If you are hosted at *ComputingHost* (example), You can get an IP like 64.69.35.170.
In such case, at your registerar, you have to enter :-

Example.com - A-ADDRESS -> 64.69.35.170
ftp.Example.com - A-ADDRESS -> 64.69.35.170
mail.Example.com - A-ADDRESS -> 64.69.35.170

PLEASE NOTE, After you create SUB domains at your web host, you have to point them at the registerar with the A-ADDRESS.

Suppose you create, my-sub-domain.example.com

You will have to set the A-Address accordingly at your registrar.

my-sub-domain.example.com - A-ADDRESS -> 64.69.35.170

If you don't set A-ADDRESS IP for mail, ftp etc, those services will NOT work. Therefore, When using A-Address to point your domain, make sure you point mail, ftp and other sub domains that you have.

The Advantage of A-Address is you can have different Sub domains pointing to different Web hosts.

Suppose, you have lots free space at Trap17 and ComputingHost. And you want to use them both, you can have



-- End of Tutorial --

-OpaQue

another great tutorial by OpaQue! This is exually very usefull cause people keep getting problems with their DNS.