DNS Change
Whenever DNS (domain name server) change occurs, it requires around twenty four to forty eight hours for completing. The customers from all over the world update their cache during this propagtion of time routers. This causes the site for different people at different times to be up and down randomly during the first 48 hours. DNS works like a zip code. For instance, if the zip code is not entered on the mail then the post office can not able to know where to send it. Domains also works like the same way. If they do not have the DNS address then the Internet is not able to know the destination, where server should send for the request came from the source.
How to make the changes
Each and every registrar has a different procedure for changing the domains DNS, however they all have been done basically in the same way. The welcome email has been received from the DNS server that provides the opportunity to send request with the name servers to the client who needs to change its domain to another one. Then they can take those name servers for wherever they bought their domain and reference to their domain name. The name servers should look something like ns1.hostgator.com and ns2.hostgator.com
Here the customers are advised not to use these name servers unless welcome email said to do so.
Managing the Domain with referencing another registrar
HostGator, in its efforts to provide better customer services and help them the best way to provide smooth business working, it provides them with detailed tutorials about managing the domains of the users with referencing other registrars like eNom, GoDaddy.com, NetworkSolutions.com, Register.com, Yahoo.com, Dotster.com, NameCheap.com, 1and1.com, 123reg.co.uk, and Melbourneit.com.au.
At HostGator website (URL: ), one can find some flash movies on how to make the changes at a few of the more popular registrars. If the registrar of the HostGator customer is not included, the customer can still watch the movies to understand how it is done and take similar steps for doing the same with its own registrar.
In this text, some flash movies have been described in text format for the help of readers. These steps may be followed for managing the domain registered with enom.com. It shows how to update the whois contact information on the domain registered through this website. It redirects the retail customers to its enom’s sister portal and enomCentral.com. By clicking over the registered domain, it helps in managing domain and configuring others’ requirements as per the clients’ requirements.
1. Updating domain contact information: — In manage domain column, select contact information in order to update email address, registrant or guest, etc. information of a client.
2. Changing name servers: — In manage domain column, select DNS server settings and define their name servers as Custom by clicking on the radio button. If the client is planning to register the name server as private based on the domain name then register the account before using it. Then enter the name server 1, name server 2, and so on. as per the requirement, simultaneously check them and changes will be made within 72 hours and afterwards the cache will expire.
3. Registering name servers: — Most of the registrars require the clients’ private name server be registered before changing them at the domain portal. The mouse is hovered over the domains options of the navigation bar. From the domain option select the advanced tools option and click on the register a name server option. Then enter the first name server, ip address and click the submit button. Similarly, repeat the process to register the second one. As with many changes to DNS records, the changes require seventy two hours to propagate the changes if there are cached records at the resolvers that have not been expired.
4. Preparing a domain for transfer:– The process of transferring a domain from one domain to another is by design a cumbersome process where certain criteria has to be met before the transfer made successfully. If any of the criteria is not met, then the attempt will fail and the process has to be repeated from the beginning. Some of the condition needs to be fulfilled before transferring the domain name. First, the domain has to be active and should be registered with the current registrar for at least 60 days. Newly registered or recently transferred cannot be transferred for next 60 days. Expired domain also cannot be transferred and prior transferring to the new domain, it must be renewed through the current registrar. Now click the registered domain, follow the updating the domain account process. The Registrant and Administrative email contacts should be valid as the confirmation mail is being received by the server to these contacts. Unlock the domain by clicking the radio button in the General settings of the manage domain and click save.
Similarly, other registrar websites also perform the managing activities in the same way as Enom.com performed them.
Getting Private Name Servers setup
Clients need to create the name servers at the place they registered their domain from. Every registrar has a different process for creating private name servers. For instance, directNIC, Dotster, Enom, GoDaddy, Network Solutions, OpenSRS, and 000domains.com.
Create/Register a name server with directNIC
If the client has registered a domain with directNIC, the name servers associated with the domain can be registered but they also need to make sure that the IP address is static and valid. Here mentioned are some easy steps for registering and modifying the name server.
* Registering client’s own name server
1. To register a name server the client needs to click on the Domain Manager and then click the “Change Name Server Information” icon next to the domain desired.
2. Also, the client has to click on the Create Name server link which is at the top of the page.
3. Later, the Client needs to enter their hostname and IP address for the name server and click Create Name server.
4. This page will create an actual name server for which advanced configuration and software is required at the IP address. The client needs to ensure that they do not create a name server unless software has already been installed to run the name server.
* Modifying name server
1. After registering the client’s name server, they need to click on “Modify” link to the right of the name server and then replace the old IP with their new IP address.
2. Client needs to click on “Modify Name server” button and then submit the change. The change should be propagated through the Internet within 48 hours. Client need to make sure that they resubmit the name server change for all the domains using the name server they have modified.
Register Name Servers with Dotster
If the client wants to register their name servers, the first need is to get the two IP addresses from their ISP, and then follow these instructions:
1. Clients need to log on to their account.
2. Then click on the “Domain List.”
3. Later, they got to click on the link of the domain they like to register a name server for.
4. The clients also need to click on the “Register Name Server” link at the bottom of the screen.
5. Clients are then prompted to add the first part of the name server extension. HostGator, emphasizes the clients to use ns1 and ns2 as the beginning extensions. The rest of the name server appears by default as their domain name. HostGator also tells its clients not to add www in between the domain as this can cause forwarding problems in future.
6. Then client need to enter the IP address in the text boxes directly below name of the server, exactly same as the ISP has given them to them.
7. Finally clients need to click on the “Update” button, to get their name server registered.
Register the name server with Enom
In case the clients are running their very own DNS server and want to use their domain name to create a name server, they may register the name server name and IP address with Enom so that HostGator may register this with the Registry.
1. Client need to Log In to their account.
2. They, then from the menu at the left have to select domain names and then register DNS.
3. Finally using the tool in the first section of the page “Register a Name server Name” client can create their name server. Enom makes it a compulsion to have the domain in clients account.
Register the name server with GoDaddy
Clients can register their name servers under their account’s Domain Host Summary section. Registering their name server IP addresses allows them to define a name for their server based on their domain name. Clients can register any host name they wish, but only in the format of host.domain.tld (example: “nameserver1.godaddy.com”)
Clients need to follow the following steps to register their name servers.
1. Client needs to log into his customer account
2. Client needs to go to Domains and from Domains to My Domains
3. They have to click on their domain they would like to set up private name servers for
4. Later, client got to click on (add) under ‘Host Summary’ on the bottom left.
5. For “Host Name”: they will have to input “ns1″ without quotes in the box.
6. For “Host IP 1”: they will have to input their primary IP address
7. They need to click “Ok” – This way their first name server gets created.
8. Clicking on ‘add under’ ‘Host Summary’ on the bottom left again would be their next step.
9. For “Host Name:” client has to input “ns2” without quotes in the box.
10. For “Host IP 2: client needs to enter the same IP as their primary address, except one number higher and Click “OK”
After they have registered the private name servers, they can now set all of their domain names to use the name servers they just registered. Like most domain changes, it may take 24 – 48 hours for this to propagate and be usable. This delay applies to all domains with any Registrar and not just Go Daddy.
Register the name server with Network Solutions
In order to create or modify an IP address that is associated with client’s Name Server, it will first be necessary for clients to log in to the Account that contains the parent domain of the name server they wants to create or modify. (i.e. if client wants to modify the IP address of the host “ns1.clientdomain.com”, they must be logged in for the domain clientdomain.com.)
1. Client got to enter his User ID and password in the dialogue box provided beneath the “Customer Log In” header, click “Log In”.
2. Clicking “Manage host Servers” at the bottom of the left navigations, client can proceed. If “Manage Host Servers” does not appear once they have logged in, they need to cut and paste the following URL into their browser: https://www.networksolutions.com/en_US/manage-it/manage-nameservers.jhtml
3. By entering the name of the host server to be created or modified into the first dialog box provided and clicking “Continue”, client can proceed to next step.
4. Later, the client need to Enter or verify the IP address and proceed by Clicking “Continue”.
5. Client needs to confirm the changes to the host server. If the information is correct, they need to click “Apply Change”.
It may take up to 72 hours for this change to be recognized across the Internet.
Register the name server with OpenSRS
To create a name server based on their existing domain, client has to follow these steps:
1. Firstly, Clients need to Log into with the domain name, user name and password. If they do not have these they will have to contact their Reseller.
2. Choosing “Name Servers” from the options at the top of the page is the next step.
3. Client has to scroll to the bottom of the page, where it says “If he wants to create or modify a name server based on domain name, click here”. Client has to click there.
4. Then, client gets to see a set of boxes, one of which will accept data. The second box will not be editable, and will display his domain name. He has to choose a name server prefix and type it into the box. ns1 or dns1 would be good as name server prefixes but ‘www’ and ‘mail’ is strictly prohibited. The full contents of these boxes (e.g. dns1.clientdomainname.com) will be the name of the new name server. In the IP box, client will be needed to type in the IP number of their domain’s name server.
5. Click on the “Create Name server” option. Client will see a note saying “Name server dns1.clientdomainname.com is registered. This means the registry “knows” of the existence of clients name server. It will be 24 – 48 hours before clients name server info propagates to the rest of the world.
Register the name server with 000domains.com
Client can create/register their own name servers based on their domain name. Clients can Login to Account Manager with this domain name, click on “Host Records” and follow the instructions in that page.
Client should Try and look for something along the lines of “register DNS” “create DNS” or “add DNS” from within their account with their registrar. The only way to create Name Servers is by using the IP addresses assigned to clients’ ns1 and ns2.clientdomain.com by HostGator. In case there is not a field asking for the IP they are not at the right place.