07Domains, DNS & SSL

Manage DNS records – set A, AAAA, CNAME, MX and TXT

How to create, change and delete DNS records in the web panel DNS editor at Nexthosting (up to 1,500 records) or at your old provider – with examples.

In short

With web hosting and WordPress hosting, you manage your domain’s DNS records in the DNS editor of the web panel. It has room for up to 1,500 records. If your domain lives elsewhere with third-party nameservers, you change the records at that provider. First set the record, save, and then wait out the TTL.

First: where are your DNS records?

Records only take effect at the place your domain’s nameservers point to. DNS basics explains this. Check it before you change anything.

Which nameservers does your domain use?

Those of Nexthosting (ns1.nexthosting.net, ns2.nexthosting.net)Edit the records in the DNS editor of the web panel (this page)

Those of your old registrarEdit the records there in the DNS area

Those of a service such as CloudflareEdit the records only there

I do not knowLook it up with nslookup, see below

This is how you check it on your computer (Windows, macOS and Linux):

nslookup -type=NS meinprojekt.de

dig NS meinprojekt.de +short

DNS editor in the web panel

You reach the web panel at webpanel.nexthosting.net. How to log in there is explained under Web panel access. The DNS editor is part of every web hosting and WordPress plan and holds up to 1,500 records. The exact menu names can differ between versions; you will find the area at your website’s domain.

Log in to the web panel and open the website or domain you want to change.
Open the DNS area of the domain.
Choose whether you want to add, edit or delete a record.
Fill in the fields (see the table below), save, and check the change after a few minutes (see Solving DNS problems).

The fields of a record

Field	Meaning	Example
Type	A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, TXT, SRV …	`A`
Name (host)	Which part of the domain. `@` stands for the domain itself.	`www`
Value (target)	Address or text	`203.0.113.10`
TTL	Seconds for which answers may be stored	`3600`
Priority	Only for MX and SRV	`10`

Depending on the interface, you write the name as www or as www.meinprojekt.de. Some providers append the domain themselves; in that case you would end up with www.meinprojekt.de.meinprojekt.de. Look at how existing records appear in the list.

Examples

The addresses are examples from the documentation range. Use your own address, which the web panel shows for your website.

; Website on the main domain
@       3600  IN  A      203.0.113.10
@       3600  IN  AAAA   2001:db8::10
; www points to the same site
www     3600  IN  CNAME  meinprojekt.de.
; Email (mail.meinprojekt.de points to the web hosting server)
@       3600  IN  MX     10 mail.meinprojekt.de.
; SPF for Nexthosting mailboxes
@       3600  IN  TXT    "v=spf1 include:_spf.nexthosting.net ~all"

Goal	Type	Name	Value
Main domain to the website	A (and AAAA, if shown)	`@`	Address from the web panel
`www` to the main domain	CNAME	`www`	`meinprojekt.de`
Subdomain to another server	A	`shop`	Address of the server
Verification code of a service	TXT	`@` or as given by the service	Text from the service
Email server	MX	`@`	`mail.meinprojekt.de` (your domain), priority e.g. 10
SPF for Nexthosting mailboxes	TXT	`@`	`v=spf1 include:_spf.nexthosting.net ~all`

More on SPF, DKIM and DMARC in Email DNS.

Change or delete a record

Change: You change the value, the TTL stays. Old resolvers keep showing the old value until the TTL expires.
Delete: Deleting also removes the reachability of that name. Delete records only if you are sure.
Duplicate records: Several A records for the same name cause visitors to land alternately at different addresses. You only want that on purpose (load balancing).

The domain is elsewhere

If the domain stays at another provider and uses its nameservers, you will find an area there such as “DNS”, “Zone management” or “Nameserver & DNS”. The fields are the same as above. How to use them to reach web hosting or a game server is explained in Connect a domain to your website and Connect a domain to your game server.

Frequently asked questions

Why does my new record not work immediately?

Because of the TTL. See DNS basics and Solving DNS problems.

Can I set a CNAME on `@`?

No. The main domain carries an A or AAAA record, because MX and TXT records live there as well. Some providers offer an “ALIAS” or “ANAME”; at Nexthosting you set A or AAAA.

How many records may I create?

Up to 1,500 in the DNS editor of the web panel.