Knowledgebase

Using External Nameservers Instead Print

  • dnsnameservers, nameservers, dns, cpanel, subdomain, email, spf, dkim, deliverability, domain
  • 0

Keeping DNS elsewhere.

WHEN THIS APPLIES

Your domain uses Cloudflare, your registrar's DNS, or another provider, while the hosting is with us.

Entirely legitimate and common.

WHAT YOU MUST DO

Create an A record pointing at your account's server address, which is shown in cPanel.

Create records for www and any subdomains.

Create MX records pointing at your mail hostname, and an A record for that hostname.

Create SPF and DKIM records matching what cPanel > Email Deliverability specifies.

WHAT THIS MEANS

cPanel's Zone Editor is no longer consulted. Every change must be made at the external provider.

Adding a subdomain in cPanel creates the directory and the cPanel zone entry, and you must add the DNS record externally.

That catches people out repeatedly.

THE ADVANTAGE

Fast propagation at some providers, and DNS that survives a hosting change.

THE DISADVANTAGE

Another system to maintain, and another place for records to be missing.

WHAT TO RECORD

Where DNS is hosted, in your documentation. During an incident you need to know immediately.


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