Connect a domain to your game server – subdomain and SRV

In short

Every game server at Nexthosting gets a free subdomain under .nexthosting.app, which you set up in the panel on the Subdomains page. Your own domain works too: for Minecraft you use an SRV record so players do not have to type a port number. For most other games, an A record points to the server and players append the port.

Which option suits you?

What do you want to achieve?

A memorable address, without my own domainSet up the free subdomain under .nexthosting.app in the panel→

Minecraft, own domain without a port numberSet an SRV record→

Another game, own domainSet an A record to the server address→

The fastest way: generate DNS records in the panel

In the game server panel, the Netzwerk (Network) page has a box called DNS-Einträge erzeugen (generate DNS records). You enter your own domain, for example play.example.com, and the panel shows you the matching records to copy: an A record to your server’s address and an SRV record for Minecraft.

1. In the panel, open the Netzwerk page of your server.
2. Scroll to DNS-Einträge erzeugen and type in the domain or subdomain you want (just the name, e.g. play.meinprojekt.de).
3. Copy the records shown (type, name, content) and create them at the provider of your domain (Manage DNS records).
4. Wait out the TTL and test the address in the game.

panel.nexthosting.net/server/…/network

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The Netzwerk (Network) page with the domain generator.

1. IP address and port of your server (the main port is marked)
2. Enter your domain here
3. The generated A and SRV records to copy

Note

Which records the panel shows depends on the game. The SRV record is intended for Minecraft. The following sections explain what the records mean and how to create them by hand.

Free subdomain in the panel

The game server panel has a Subdomains page. There you set up a free subdomain under .nexthosting.app and can rename it later. Your preferred name becomes an address like meinserver.nexthosting.app. The panel shows you which names are available.

1. Open your game server panel at panel.nexthosting.net (Open the panel).
2. On the left, under Verwaltung (Management), choose Subdomains.
3. Enter the name you want and save.
4. Give the new address to your players. If the game needs a port, append it (see below).

More on ports and forwarding: Network, ports and subdomains.

Subdomain and own domain at the same time

You can combine both. The subdomain at Nexthosting stays in place, and your own domain additionally points to the server. This is handy: if your domain record breaks, the Nexthosting address keeps working.

Minecraft: SRV record for your own domain

Normally you type the address and port for a Minecraft server (address:25565). The default port 25565 can be left out. If your server runs on a different port, an SRV record helps. It tells the game: “At mc.meinprojekt.de you will find the server on this host and this port.” That way players can simply enter mc.meinprojekt.de.

On the Minecraft page in the shop you will find a generator that fills in the values for you.

Structure of the SRV record

Field	Meaning	Example
Type	SRV	SRV
Name	_minecraft._tcp plus the subdomain under which players connect	_minecraft._tcp.mc
Priority	The lower number is used first	0
Weight	Distribution at equal priority	5
Port	Port your server runs on	25565 (your port from the panel)
Target	Name that points to the server	meinserver.nexthosting.app
TTL	Validity	3600

_minecraft._tcp.mc  3600  IN  SRV  0 5 25565 meinserver.nexthosting.app.

Read it like this: “For mc.meinprojekt.de: priority 0, weight 5, port 25565, target meinserver.nexthosting.app.”

How Minecraft finds your server via SRV

1. ▶Player types mc.meinprojekt.de
3. 2Minecraft looks up _minecraft._tcp.mc.meinprojekt.deSRV query in DNS
5. 3DNS returns target and porte.g. meinserver.nexthosting.app and the port
7. 4Target is resolved to an IP addressA record of the subdomain
9. ✓Connection established

Step by step

1. Set up the free subdomain in the panel (see above). It is the target of the SRV record.
2. Look up your server’s port in the panel, e.g. on the server overview (address with port). Write the port down.
3. Open the DNS area at the provider of your domain (Manage DNS records).
4. Create an SRV record: name _minecraft._tcp.mc (or _minecraft._tcp if the main domain itself should apply), priority 0, weight 5, your port, target your subdomain. Some interfaces ask for service (_minecraft), protocol (_tcp) and name (mc) in separate fields.
5. Wait out the TTL and test in Minecraft: Multiplayer, Add Server, enter mc.meinprojekt.de.

Important about SRV

The target must be a name, not a numeric value, and it must not be a CNAME itself, otherwise resolution does not work reliably. The SRV record only applies to Minecraft (Java Edition). With Bedrock Edition you have to type in the port.

More about your server: Minecraft at Nexthosting.

Other games: A record

Most games do not support an SRV record. There you create an A record that points the name to your game server’s IP address, and players append the port.

spiel  3600  IN  A  203.0.113.10

Example for players: spiel.meinprojekt.de:27015. You can see the address (IP) and port in your panel on the server overview. The IP address above is a documentation example. Instead of an IP address you can also set a CNAME to your subdomain meinserver.nexthosting.app. Then the record stays correct if the address changes:

spiel  3600  IN  CNAME  meinserver.nexthosting.app.

Game type	Record	Players enter
Minecraft Java	SRV (no port for players)	mc.meinprojekt.de
Games with a default port	A or CNAME	spiel.meinprojekt.de
Games with a different port	A or CNAME	spiel.meinprojekt.de:port
Games with a server browser (e.g. Steam)	optional	Server is found through the list

Whether your game needs the port is explained in the respective game guide. With your own IP address, your server has an address of its own. If you give it up later or receive a new one, A records with a fixed IP change; a CNAME to the Nexthosting subdomain, however, stays valid.

Problems?

Symptom	Cause	Solution
“Can’t resolve hostname”	Record missing or wrong name	Check the spelling, wait out the TTL
Minecraft does not connect through the domain, but does through the subdomain	SRV record wrong	Check the name _minecraft._tcp and the port
Players end up on the old server	Old A record or DNS cache	Delete old records, Solving DNS problems
Connection hangs	Port not opened	Check in the panel under Netzwerk (Network)

Frequently asked questions

Does the subdomain cost anything?

The subdomain under .nexthosting.app is free.

Do I need my own domain for Minecraft?

No. The free subdomain is enough. You only need your own domain for a nicer address.

Does the domain also work with Cloudflare?

Yes, but set “DNS only” (grey cloud) for game server records. Game traffic does not run through the Cloudflare proxy.

Further reading

• Network, ports and subdomains
• Minecraft server at Nexthosting
• Manage DNS records
• DNS basics