Understanding DNS zones is a large portion of ensuring that things go well online. It is not the most interesting aspect of having a domain, but one of the most crucial. DNS is similar to the address book of the internet–it dictates to the browsers and applications where to be when someone enters the name of your site. Without it, nothing really really connects.
The DNS Zone on OVH contains all the data regarding the behavior of a domain, such as where emails must be sent, on which server the site is hosted, and how subdomains are configured. Even a single record out of those will cause a broken site or mails being sent nowhere. Therefore, control over those records is more important than many people believe.
OVH gives users the tools to manage this stuff without needing to be super technical. Whether the domain is bought through OVH or just used its nameservers, the DNS editor is easy enough to use once you know where everything is. It lets you add a subdomain, point your domain to a new host, or set up email routing.
The DNS component may sound technical, but it is simply how the internet knows where to send people. As a user enters the name of a website in his/her browser, DNS will convert the name to the real IP address of the site. Without it, you would have to memorize a host of random numbers just to check your mail or open a page.
When you are working with a domain on OVHcloud, all those rules and directions are stored in the DNS zone. It’s what tells browsers, email servers, and other tools where to go. Simple in theory but super crucial if you want things to work the way they should. Here’s how to access the DNS Zone:
Head over to the OVHcloud login page. Enter email and password. Assuming you have two-factor authentication on, pick up your phone or other device and enter the code they provide to you. No code, no access.
When you are there, check the left hand menu. Click on “Domains.” All the domains associated with your account are listed there.
Click the desired domain. Ensure that it is the right one, you do not want to modify settings on the wrong domain by mistake.
Within the domain settings, a section named DNS Zone or any similar one should exist.Click that. It’ll show you all the current records tied to your domain.
Operating your DNS entries in OVHcloud is not very difficult, you just need to be careful. You will be making edits, creating new entries or deleting the old ones, and with each edit you make, you can influence the functionality of your domain, so you should not hurry to do it. it can take time to see The Changes Being Made to the DNS
To update current records, you can do it as follows:
Need to add something new? Here’s what to do:
Cleaning things up? Here’s how to get rid of old entries:
Confirm it: OVHcloud will probably ask if you’re sure; just confirm, and it’s gone.
Open the DNS Zone for your domain again.
Find the record that’s no longer needed.
Click delete: Usually, there’s a trash can icon or a delete button.
Always save after any edit, addition or deletion. Otherwise, nothing will be different at all.
DNS updates are not instant, so you know. The new information may take some time to disseminate through the internet, a few minutes to perhaps 48 hours. Some people may continue to view the old one as others view the new version during this period.
You can check with a tool whether things have changed:
At times, your computer stores old information. It might be necessary to flush your DNS cache locally, or even restart your device, to display the new records.
The DNS zone on OVH may initially appear to be a technical exercise, but after taking a few stabs through it, it is not as difficult as it initially appeared. You can take your time until you get it right. Only keep in mind that minor errors during DNS can lead to a major problem, and you should not hurry.
Being used to this stuff will give you much more control of your domain. You will not have to wait on support, nor will you feel stuck when you need to point your site somewhere new, or configure email. It is one of those things that you get used to the more you do it.
And by the way it is easy to fix most of it even when you do something wrong. You only have to understand where to find it and how to undo it. And do not worry, just save a copy of your settings before changing and you will always have a way out.
Do not panic. Suppose you put in the wrong record and change or delete the wrong record, you may be temporarily unable to use your web page or email. You can fix it easily by just typing the correct data again. It is always worth remembering to take a screen shot or record the initial settings before you start changing anything.
It depends. The changes are sometimes evident in a few minutes, and sometimes it can take hours. It may also take as long as 48 hours, depending on your TTL configuration and the way ISPs manage their cache.
Yes, you can–provided that you configure the nameservers of your domain to point to OVH. Then you can administer the DNS zone, via the OVH control panel, as any other domain.
Usually, yes. When your new host assigns you a new IP address you will need to change the A record to have your domain point to the new server. That is particularly how browsers are aware of their destinations.
Not always. Unless you know what a record is, it is better to leave it alone or ask a person before deleting it. There are email, verification, or subdomain records that you may have long since forgotten.
An A record refers straight to an IP address. A CNAME on the other hand points a domain to another domain name. It comes in handy when you wish various names to appear on the same site.
It could be your MX records. Unless they are configured properly, the emails will not have any idea where to go. Check those settings twice and ensure that the priority numbers are correct, as well.
Not exactly. Before making the change, you can lower the TTL to cause the change to propagate quicker, or you can use on-site facilities like dig and editing your host file, but it will not actually go live until a DNS propagation occurs.
TTL stands for “Time to Live.” It informs servers on how many seconds to wait before they check again on a DNS record. Reduced TTL implies a quicker update but increased DNS traffic. When you are about to change something, it should be set at a lower level.
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