Introduction
DNS (Domain Name System) is the backbone of the internet, translating user-friendly domain names into unique IP addresses that facilitate online communication. Understanding how to manage DNS records is essential for website administrators. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process of managing DNS records using cPanel’s Zone Editor.
Accessing Zone Editor in cPanel
- Log in to your cPanel account.
- Navigate to the “DOMAINS” section and select “Zone Editor.”
Common DNS Records
Before we dive into managing DNS records, let’s familiarize ourselves with the three most common types of DNS records:
- A (Address) Records: These records associate a domain name with an IP address.
- CNAME (Canonical Name) Records: CNAME records are used to create aliases or redirects for a domain name.
- MX (Mail Exchanger) Records: MX records specify the mail server responsible for receiving email messages on behalf of a domain.
Adding an A (Address) Record
- Click the “+ A Record” button in Zone Editor.
- In the pop-up window, enter the new record’s Name (subdomain) and the corresponding IP Address.
- Click “Add an A Record” to save your changes.
Remember to include a trailing period (.) at the end of the Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) to prevent unintended domain concatenation.
Adding a CNAME (Canonical Name) Record
- Click the “+ CNAME Record” button in Zone Editor.
- In the pop-up window, enter the NAME (subdomain) and your desired CNAME.
- Click “Add a CNAME Record” to save your changes.
Adding an MX (Mail Exchanger) Record
- Click the “+ MX Record” button in Zone Editor.
- In the pop-up window, specify the Priority and Destination server name for the new mail exchanger.
- Click “Add an MX Record” to save your changes.
Viewing Existing DNS Records
Before making any changes, it’s wise to review the existing DNS records for a domain. Here’s how to do it:
- In Zone Editor, locate the domain you want to inspect and click the “Manage” button next to it.
- This will display all the DNS records associated with that domain.
Editing Existing Records
To edit an existing DNS record:
- In the “Manage” view of the domain’s DNS records, click the “Edit” button next to the entry you wish to modify.
- Update the relevant information.
- Click “Save” to apply your changes.
Adding Other Record Types
If you need to add DNS records of types other than A, CNAME, or MX, follow these steps:
- In the “Manage” view, click the “+ Add Record” drop-down menu.
- Select the desired record type.
- Enter the appropriate details for the new record.
- Click “Add” or “Save” to create the new record.