Here is an insight on some standard uses of various DNS records:
| Record Type | Explanation | How it is generally used by the domain owners |
|---|---|---|
| A Record | Allots an address for your domain to a particular IP (www to 12.345.678.90) | This record is utilized for managing the specific servers that host a specific function that is associated with their web presence like email, website etc. Many other DNS servers need an allocated A Record in order to function perfectly. |
| CNAME Alias | This is a hostname that points to anther hostname. Like for instance info.yourdomainname.net to info.yourdomainname.com | This record is utilized for pointing a sub domain to another domain or sub domain. The normal subdomains can only point to a directory that is present within your hosting account. |
| MX Record | This is a hostname that denotes the server/servers that receive mail and it also defines the priority in which every server is used if a server fails to receive email. | The purpose of this record is to use a different email service other than the one provided by the hosting company or for designating personal servers as mail backups. |
| NS Record | This record signifies a hostname that points to a particular name server. For instance signifying shop.yourwebsitename.com to ns1.example.com | This record is utilized for allocating a sub domain to a different name server. The use of this record is rarely done. |
| Private Name Server | With this record, you can define your own name servers instead of using the generic ones provided by the web host. | This record is used for creating anonymity between the online business and the hosting company or for using hosting on VPS or dedicated server. |
| TXT/SPF Record | This is a Sender Policy Framework that helps in reducing domain spoofing and spam. | This record is used for verifying the domain and to determine if it is safe to use with external services like Google Analytics. |
Domain Pointing And Redirecting
It is not always necessary for you to change your DNS records when you have to point your domain or when you have to setup a redirect. You can try to use a 301 redirect or use Simple Domain Pointers for the task that you wish to execute. These redirects work great when it comes to forwarding all the traffic from one domain to the other. When it comes to fine-tuning your domain, you will have to use DNS records.
Understanding Which DNS Records Are Correct
When you register a domain name at MilesWeb or when you add an existing domain name to your hosting account, a zone file which is a set of DNS records is created for that domain. All the records of this zone file point to MilesWeb’s service by default. The settings present within the zone file will work only if your domain’s name servers are pointing to MilesWeb. If the name servers are pointing to some other company then the domain will be using the DNS settings of that company.
At MilesWeb, we help you to understand about how you are supposed to make changes in the DNS records; we can also reset your DNS records back to the defaults of MilesWeb. We can also assist in verifying that the DNS records that you see in Domain Central match with the ones that are visible to the rest of the world. It is important for you to take into consideration that the propagation time of DNS records can cause a delay of up to 48 hours after you make the modification.
However if you choose to use the DNS records that are different from the MilesWeb defaults, in this case MilesWeb won’t be able to verify if you are using the right ones. The records you use should be acquired from the company to which you are trying to point the records to. If you choose to reset the records to the MilesWeb defaults, you can get in touch with us for assistance.
