{"id":842,"date":"2011-08-26T17:02:36","date_gmt":"2011-08-26T17:02:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.inmotionhosting.com\/support\/2011\/08\/26\/how-do-i-make-custom-dns-records\/"},"modified":"2023-10-31T15:40:03","modified_gmt":"2023-10-31T19:40:03","slug":"how-do-i-make-custom-dns-records","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.inmotionhosting.com\/support\/edu\/cpanel\/how-do-i-make-custom-dns-records\/","title":{"rendered":"How Do I Add DNS Records?"},"content":{"rendered":"

What is DNS?<\/h2>\n
Domain Name System (DNS)<\/strong> is the component of the Internet which converts human-readable domain names (e.g., example.com) into computer-readable IP addresses (e.g., 86.75.30.9). It does this according to DNS Zone files<\/strong> configured on your server.<\/div>\n

What is a DNS Record?<\/h2>\n

A DNS record points specific parts of your DNS to a domain or IP. For example, we have many users that subscribe to G Suite. If you want to use Google’s (instead of InMotion Hosting’s) servers for your email, you will need to point your MX Records<\/strong> to Google’s mail servers. Google provides you with these records, here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Another example of a DNS record is a CNAME record<\/strong>. A CNAME record simply points a domain to another domain. The most common, yet transparent, CNAME record example would be the www<\/em> subdomain that simply points to the domain without www<\/em>. A DNS lookup of the www.example.com CNAME record would indicate to resolve the A record for example.com and navigate to the IP stored in that A record. This allows visitors of your site to use www.example.com or example.com to reach your site and see the same content.<\/p>\n

How Long Do DNS Changes Take?<\/h2>\n

DNS changes can take up to 24 hours to take effect. This period of time is referred to as propagation<\/a>.<\/p>\n

How do I view and add DNS records?<\/h2>\n

Before you make any DNS changes, make sure that you understand the records you are adding and the effect they may have on your website or web-based application. Follow the directions below to view and add the DNS records for the domains in your account.<\/p>\n

How to View DNS Records<\/h3>\n

You can view most of your DNS records in the Zone Editor<\/strong><\/a>, which is in cPanel under the Domains<\/em> section.<\/p>\n

How to Add Common DNS Records<\/h3>\n
NOTE:<\/b> In order to follow any of the steps in our tutorials, you must have a hosting account. If you have a domain name only account (you have only purchased a domain name but no hosting), you will not have access to cPanel in order to make any DNS changes.<\/div>\n

Shared Servers<\/h3>\n

To add A, MX, and CNAME<\/em> records, you will need to access the, Zone Editor<\/strong> within your cPanel. This feature is located within cPanel’s Domains<\/em> section. Here is a link to our guide providing instructions for adding DNS records using the cPanel Zone Editor<\/a>.<\/p>\n

VPS and Dedicated Servers<\/h3>\n

If you are on a Virtual Private Server (VPS)<\/a> or Dedicated server, you also will have access to the Zone Editor<\/strong>. Not only will the Zone Editor allow you to add DNS records, but it will allow you to edit current records as well.<\/p>\n

Instructions on adding A records and CNAME records in both cPanel and WHM can be found here:<\/p>\n