Demystifying DNS: A Beginner’s Guide to Common Settings and Troubleshooting

by

As a small business or website owner, you’ve likely come across the term “DNS” before. But what exactly is DNS, and why is it important? In this beginner-friendly guide, I’ll break down the basics of managing your domain name via DNS settings including common issues. Hopefully this empowers you to manage your website’s DNS or at least gives you better insight into what a hired expert is doing.

At its heart, DNS is like the internet’s phone book. It connects easy-to-remember domain names (like yourwebsite.com) into computer-friendly IP addresses.This helps browsers locate your website. Knowing the basics of DNS is key to keeping your website running smoothly.

Let’s start with some DNS basics:

  1. Nameservers: When managing your domain’s DNS, nameservers store and manage your website’s DNS records, including its IP address. When someone visits your domain, their computer queries your nameservers via a DNS resolver to find your site’s IP address and direct traffic to your server. If you’re switching web hosting providers or using a specialized DNS service, you’ll usually need to update the nameserver settings for your domain at your registrar. This tells the internet which nameservers to consult to find the authoritative DNS information for your website. By pointing your domain to the correct nameservers, you ensure that visitors can reach your website without issues.
  2. A Records: An A record, short for “Address record,” points your domain name to a specific IP address. For example, if your website server uses the IP 192.0.2.1, you’d create an A record pointing your domain to that IP. This ensures visitors are directed to the correct server when they type in your domain name.
  3. CNAME Records: CNAME, or “Canonical Name,” records allow you to create aliases for your domain. This is useful when pointing a subdomain (like blog.yourwebsite.com) to another domain or service provider. Instead of an IP address, you simply specify the target domain name.
  4. TXT Records: TXT records store text-based information associated with your domain. They serve various purposes, but a common use case is verifying domain ownership for third-party services. For example, when setting up Google Analytics or Google Search Console, you might need to add a specific TXT record to prove you control the domain.
  5. MX Records: MX, or “Mail Exchange,” records are essential for email delivery. They tell the internet where to send emails addressed to your domain. Think of them as the postal service instructions for your website’s mail. Each MX record points to a mail server responsible for handling your domain’s emails. You’ll typically have multiple MX records with different priority values, ensuring redundancy if one mail server is unavailable.

Common troubleshooting

  • Propagation Delays: When you make changes to your DNS settings, it can take time for those changes to become visible across the internet. This delay, known as propagation time, can vary from a few minutes to 48 hours. Try to be patient. When changes don’t happen immediately, that may not mean something is wrong.
  • DNS Cache: Web browsers and internet service providers often cache DNS information to speed up lookups. However, this cached data can sometimes cause issues if it becomes outdated. If you’ve made DNS changes but aren’t seeing them reflected, try clearing your browser cache and flushing your DNS cache.
  • Incorrect Records: One of the most common DNS issues is incorrect or outdated records. Double-check your settings to ensure your A records point to the right IP addresses, your CNAME records have valid targets, and your TXT records contain the correct verification strings. A single typo can throw things off.

By understanding these key DNS concepts and common issues, you’ll be well-equipped to manage your website’s DNS settings with confidence.

Why Manage DNS with a Domain Registrar or Third-Party Provider?

While you can manage your DNS settings through your web hosting provider, there are several benefits to using a domain registrar or a dedicated DNS management service like Cloudflare:

  1. Separation of Concerns: By separating your DNS management from your web hosting, you gain more flexibility and control. If you need to switch web hosts, your DNS settings remain unaffected, minimizing downtime and simplifying the transition process. If your web host is also handling your DNS, an outage at the host would likely affect your nameservers as well. This could prevent you from making changes to your DNS records to redirect traffic elsewhere as a temporary fix during the outage.
  2. Enhanced Security Features: Domain registrars and third-party DNS providers often offer additional security features, such as two-factor authentication, DNS security extensions (DNSSEC), and DDoS protection. These measures help protect your domain against unauthorized changes and potential attacks.
  3. Specialized DNS Management Tools: Dedicated DNS management platforms provide user-friendly interfaces and advanced tools for managing your DNS records. These tools often include features like bulk record management, API access, and detailed logging, making it easier to maintain and troubleshoot your DNS settings.
  4. Improved Performance: Third-party DNS providers like Cloudflare or Amazon Route 53 have globally distributed networks optimized for fast DNS resolution. By leveraging their infrastructure, you can improve your website’s performance and reduce latency for users worldwide.

By managing your DNS settings through a domain registrar or a dedicated DNS provider, you gain greater control, security, and flexibility in managing your domain’s online presence.

Practical DNS Management Examples

Now that you understand the basics of DNS records and their functions, let’s walk through a practical tutorial on managing your DNS settings. For this example, we’ll use Hover.com as our domain registrar.

  1. Log in to your Hover account: Go to hover.com and log in using your credentials.
  2. Select your domain: From the dashboard, click on the domain name you want to manage.
  3. Access DNS settings: In the domain overview page, click on the “DNS” tab to access your domain’s DNS settings.
  4. Adding an A record: To point your domain to a specific IP address, click “Add a Record” and select “A” as the record type. Enter the hostname (e.g., @ for the root domain or subdomain name) and the target IP address. Save the record.
  5. Creating a CNAME record: To set up an alias for your domain, click “Add a Record” and choose “CNAME” as the record type. Enter the hostname (e.g., www or blog) and the target domain name. Save the record.
  6. Adding a TXT record: To add a TXT record for domain verification or other purposes, click “Add a Record” and select “TXT” as the record type. Enter the hostname (usually @) and the TXT value provided by the service requiring verification. Save the record.
  7. Adding an MX record: To direct your domain’s emails to the correct mail server, click “Add a Record” and select “MX” as the record type. Enter the hostname (usually @) and the mail server’s domain name (e.g., mail.yourdomain.com). You’ll also need to specify a priority value (lower numbers indicate higher priority). Save the record.
  8. Verifying and saving changes: Double-check your entries for accuracy. Once you’re confident, click “Save Changes” to apply the modifications to your DNS settings.

Other Popular Providers

GoDaddy:

  1. Log into your GoDaddy account and select the domain you want to manage.
  2. In the domain settings, find and click on “Manage DNS.”
  3. You’ll see a list of your existing records. To add a new one, click on the “Add” button.
  4. Choose the record type from the dropdown menu (A, CNAME, MX, TXT, etc.).
  5. Fill in the required fields:
    • Type: The type of record you’re adding.
    • Name: The hostname or subdomain (leave blank or use “@” for the root domain).
    • Value: The IP address (for A records), target domain (for CNAME), mail server address (for MX), or text string (for TXT).
    • TTL: The time-to-live value. Leave it as the default or adjust as needed.
  6. Click “Save” to add the new record.

Namecheap:

  1. Log into your Namecheap account and select “Domain List” from the left sidebar.
  2. Click on the “Manage” button next to the domain you want to modify.
  3. Under the “Nameservers” section, click on “Advanced DNS.”
  4. Click on the “Add New Record” button.
  5. Choose the record type from the dropdown menu.
  6. Fill in the required fields:
    • Host: The hostname or subdomain (use “@” for the root domain).
    • Value: The IP address (for A records), target domain (for CNAME), mail server address (for MX), or text string (for TXT).
    • TTL: The time-to-live value. Leave it as the default or adjust as needed.
  7. Click the checkmark icon to save the new record.

Remember, after making changes, allow some time for propagation. You can use online tools like What’s My DNS or DNS Checker to monitor the progress of your DNS updates.

By following these steps and regularly monitoring your DNS settings, you’ll be able to effectively manage your domain’s DNS records and ensure your website operates smoothly.

Common DNS Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

DNS management can be tricky, and even small errors can lead to big problems for your website. Here are some common mistakes to watch out for:

  1. Forgetting to Update DNS After Switching Hosts: When you move your website to a new hosting provider, you’ll need to update your domain’s nameservers or A records to point to the new server’s IP address. Failing to do so can result in your website becoming inaccessible.
  2. Typos in Record Entries: Even a single mistyped character in a DNS record can cause problems. Carefully review all entries before saving any changes.
  3. Pointing Records to the Wrong IP Address: Double-check that your A records are pointing to the correct IP addresses for your web server and any other services (like email). A simple typo can cause major disruptions.
  4. Ignoring TTL Values: TTL (Time to Live) determines how long a DNS record is cached. If you need to make quick changes, temporarily lowering the TTL can help speed up propagation. However, remember to set it back to a reasonable value afterward to avoid overloading your DNS servers.
  5. Incorrect MX Records: Make sure your MX records are pointing to your correct mail servers and that the priority values are set up properly. Incorrect MX records can lead to email delivery issues or even complete email outages.
  6. Not Using a Second MX Record: Having multiple MX records with different priority values provides redundancy. If your primary mail server goes down, emails can be routed to your secondary server, minimizing disruptions.
  7. Not Monitoring DNS Changes: Regularly review your DNS settings to ensure they haven’t been tampered with. Consider using a monitoring service to alert you of any unauthorized changes.

Tips for Avoiding DNS Mistakes

  • Double-Check Everything: Before saving any DNS changes, carefully review all entries for accuracy.
  • Test Changes: If possible, test your changes on a staging environment or a subdomain before applying them to your main website.
  • Keep Records Organized: Maintain a clear and organized record of your DNS settings, including any changes you make.

By being aware of these common mistakes and following best practices, you can minimize DNS-related issues and keep your website running smoothly.

Wrapping Up

DNS might seem daunting at first glance, but once you grasp the fundamental settings and typical problems, you’ll navigate the DNS landscape with greater ease. Keep in mind that a well-managed DNS is crucial for making sure your website is reachable and running smoothly.

If you encounter any hurdles, don’t stress! There’s a wealth of resources out there to assist you in troubleshooting DNS problems. Online communities, how-to guides, and your web host’s support crew can all provide valuable direction.

As you keep managing your site’s DNS, remember that it’s a continuous process. Conducting regular checkups and making updates will help you stay ahead of potential hiccups and keep your online presence robust.

Have your own question?

Ask me Here