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07Domains, DNS & SSL

Connect your domain to your Nexthosting website

Connect your domain to Nexthosting web hosting or WordPress hosting – by switching nameservers or with A, AAAA and CNAME records at your old provider.

In short

First enter the domain in the web panel for your website. Then, at your current provider, either set the nameservers to ns1.nexthosting.net and ns2.nexthosting.net, or set A and AAAA records (and www as a CNAME) there. The address for the A record is shown by the web panel for your website. Afterwards Nexthosting issues an SSL certificate automatically.

The two routes

Section titled “The two routes”
Should Nexthosting manage your domain's DNS records?
Yes, I want everything in one placeRoute A: switch nameservers
No, the provider should keep DNS (e.g. because my email is there)Route B: set A, AAAA and CNAME records at the old provider
The domain is at Nexthosting and included with the web hosting planAdd it in the web panel; the settings are usually already correct
Route A: switch nameservers Route B: records at the old provider
Who manages the DNS records? Nexthosting (DNS editor in the web panel, nameservers ns1.nexthosting.net and ns2.nexthosting.net) Your current provider
Effort Change nameservers once, then maintain all records Change two or three records
Email at the old provider? Has to be rebuilt in the DNS editor Stays unchanged
Waiting time Up to 48 hours Usually minutes to a few hours
Good for Everything from one source Domain with other services (email, shop)

Preparation: add the domain in the web panel

Section titled “Preparation: add the domain in the web panel”

Whichever route you take: the website must know the domain. Otherwise the server does not know which site to deliver for this address.

  1. Log in at webpanel.nexthosting.net (Web panel access).
  2. Open your website and enter the domain as the main domain, or create the website with the domain (Create a website).
  3. For route B, note the address (IP address) the web panel shows for the website or in the DNS area (for A or AAAA). Use exactly this value. For route A you only need the Nexthosting nameservers ns1.nexthosting.net and ns2.nexthosting.net.

Route A: switch nameservers

Section titled “Route A: switch nameservers”

You tell your registrar that the Nexthosting nameservers are responsible.

  1. Add the domain in the web panel (see above).
  2. In the DNS editor of the web panel, prepare all records that already exist at the old provider (email, verifications). Help: Manage DNS records.
  3. At your current provider (registrar), in the “Nameserver” area, set the nameservers to ns1.nexthosting.net and ns2.nexthosting.net. Remove the old nameservers.
  4. Wait. Nameserver changes take up to 48 hours, usually less.
  5. Use nslookup -type=NS meinprojekt.de to check whether ns1.nexthosting.net and ns2.nexthosting.net appear.

Route B: set A, AAAA and CNAME records

Section titled “Route B: set A, AAAA and CNAME records”

The domain stays at the old provider, only the records point to Nexthosting.

  1. At the old provider, open the DNS management of the domain.
  2. Set or change the A record for @ (the main domain) to the address the web panel shows for the website. If the web panel also gives an IPv6 address, additionally set an AAAA record.
  3. Create a CNAME for www pointing to the main domain (www → meinprojekt.de).
  4. Remove old A, AAAA and CNAME records that point to the previous server. Otherwise some visitors end up in the wrong place.
  5. Leave email records (MX, TXT) unchanged if your email stays with the current provider.
@     3600  IN  A      address from the web panel
@     3600  IN  AAAA   IPv6 address from the web panel (if shown)
www   3600  IN  CNAME  meinprojekt.de.

Nexthosting deliberately gives no fixed addresses here, because they differ by product. Use the values the web panel shows for your website.

www or without www?

Section titled “www or without www?”

Both spellings should lead to the same page. Pick one as the main address and redirect the other. How to do this with .htaccess is explained in .htaccess basics. For WordPress, set the address in the settings (“WordPress Address” and “Site Address”) to the variant you want.

How long does it take?

Section titled “How long does it take?”
From the change to a running website
  1. Minute 0DNS change saved
  2. Minutes to hoursNew address becomes visible everywhereDepends on the TTL of the old record
  3. AfterwardsCertificate is issuedOnly once the domain points to the server
  4. DoneWebsite reachable via https

The SSL certificate is only created once the domain really points to the server. The details are in SSL certificates and HTTPS.

Problems when connecting

Section titled “Problems when connecting”
Symptom Common cause What to do
Old page still appears DNS cache, old A records Wait, delete old records, Solving DNS problems
Default page of the server Domain not assigned to the website in the web panel Enter the domain for the website
Browser warns about the certificate Certificate not issued yet Wait, see SSL
www does not work CNAME for www is missing Set the record
Emails do not arrive Nameserver change without MX records Create MX/TXT in the DNS editor

Frequently asked questions

Section titled “Frequently asked questions”

Do I have to register the domain at Nexthosting?

Section titled “Do I have to register the domain at Nexthosting?”

No. It can be with any provider. See Register or transfer a domain.

Which address should I enter?

Section titled “Which address should I enter?”

For the A record, the address the web panel shows for your website; we deliberately give no fixed numbers here. For a nameserver change, enter ns1.nexthosting.net and ns2.nexthosting.net.

What happens to my old website?

Section titled “What happens to my old website?”

It stays at the old provider until you cancel it. Check beforehand that everything has been moved completely (Move a website).

Further reading

Section titled “Further reading”