How to Manage the DNS Zone on SiteGround

Introduction

DNS configuration is crucial to maintaining your web site and keeping your mail moving. DNS is the address book of the internet. it relates your domain name to the server where your site resides. In the case of SiteGround,

DNS Zone on SiteGround allows a complete control on a simple interface. You can also add sub domains, initialize email routing, and also integrate external services without a lot of technical know-how. You should know what each record is before making any alterations, or you could end up offline due to a mistake made with your site or email.

What Are DNS Record Types: Overview of Key DNS Entries

The DNS records may sound confusing initially, but when you get the hang of what each of them performs, it is not that bad. Imagine them as mini programs or instructions to be followed to allow your domain to perform various tasks, such as displaying your web site, sending e-Mail or pointing to another service.

A rough summary of the ones you are likely to encounter the most is given here:

A Record: Mapping Domains to IPv4 Addresses

A Record one’s pretty basic but super important. It links your domain name with an IP address (where your site is really situated on the internet). Then, when a person enters your domain the A record tells the browser where to go.

CNAME: Creating Domain Aliases

A CNAME is sort of like a nickname. It points from one domain to another. You’d use this if you want something like blog.yourdomain.com to point to another service, maybe where your blog is hosted. It’s not for pointing to IPs—just other domain names.

MX Record: Managing Email Routing

MX stands for Mail Exchange. These records handle your email. When configuring emails with something such as Google Workspace or Outlook, you will likely need to add additional MX records to get your domain to know where to send and receive messages.

TXT: Adding Verification and Security Information

TXT Records are similar to notes that you add to a domain. These are typically used in verification, such as to demonstrate to Google or Microsoft ownership of the domain, or with SPF and DKIM, which are used to help prevent email spoofing. They do not work on the front end, but are needed on the back end.

AAAA: Associating Domains with IPv6 Addresses

This is like an A record only that it pivots to an IPv6 rather than IPv4 address. You are likely to be using A records most of the time unless you know you need AAAA Records. However, more sites are slowly moving to IPv6 so that it might come up.

SRV: Specifying Services for a Domain

SRV Records are used for more specific services, like VoIP or some chat apps. They tell your domain where to find a service and what port it uses. You don’t see them often unless you’re working with something that specifically asks for one.

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Accessing the DNS Zone Editor: Navigating DNS Management

One thing should be confirmed first before proceeding to actually manage any DNS records; you need to ensure that your domain is pointed at the nameservers of SiteGround. Otherwise, SiteGround will not allow you to change immediately. Instead, there will be a pop-up notification with the nameservers you should use. It just needs sorting out before moving on.

After that is done, you can find the DNS Zone Editor in your SiteGround account in either of two different ways: one by accessing the Client Area or the other, by accessing Site Tools. Both are okay, it is just a matter of what is more comfortable to you or what needs to be done.

Access via Client Area

  • Go to the SiteGround site, and enter your account.
  • When you are logged in, you go to the Client Area, Click Services, then Domains.
  • Select the domain you want to control, and press the Settings box next to the selected domain.
  • At the settings page, you get a DNS Zone Editor option, click on that.

This approach works well when your domain is registered with SiteGround, or when you have already pointed your domain to their set of nameservers. It provides the complete ability to browse and modify your DNS records accordingly.

Access via Site Tools

  • Log in your SiteGround account, then go to Site Tools for the particular site you are working on.
  • On Site Tools, go to Domain > DNS Zone Editor.
  • The path will be valid when you are working on an active webpage that is on SiteGround hosting.
  •  The set of tools you have will be the same regardless of whether you want to add a new record, or edit an existing record or something you no longer need.

The two alternatives will bring you to similar types of controls. It is actually only a matter of which opinion you like. All you need is to ensure that your domain is pointed in the right direction and the rest is fairly simple.

Managing DNS Records on SiteGround: Key Administrative Actions

It is very important that you manage your DNS records to ensure that your Web Site, email and other services associated with your domain work correctly. This is simplified by SiteGround via its DNS Zone Editor. Anyway, here is how you could do it: adding new records, updating the old ones, and disposing of the stuff you do not need anymore..

Creating New DNS Records

  • First log in into your SiteGround account and go to the DNS Zone Editor. You will get a list of your domains–choose the one you would like to work on.
  • When you are inside the editor scroll or search down to where it says Create New Record. That is where you will be introducing the new information.
  • Each line displays a tab with the various types of records A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, SRV, TXT… click the type that fits your need. In case of doubt, a small description or guide is usually at hand.
  • Each record type will request various information, like hostname, IP address, or perhaps a priority number (in the case of MX). Simply fill in whatever is required, proofread it and press Create or Save. And that’s it–the new record is inserted.

Editing DNS Records in place.

  • Scroll through your DNS list until you locate the record you wish to modify.
  • Each record has a small edit icon next to it. That’s the edit button. Click on it and the record will open up to edit it.
  • Change whatever it needs to change.
  • Once you are finished, you can Click Confirm or Update and the changes would be made.

Deleting DNS Records

All you have to do is to take your time, check your entries. You can also request help by asking for support when something does not seem right.

Clicking the delete button next to the record. You will see it just next to the pencil symbol.

There will be a confirmation popup–all to ensure you did not accidentally press the delete button. Click Yes or Confirm and the record will be deleted forever.

Verifying and Propagating DNS Changes

Verifying and Propagating DNS Changes: Ensuring Updates Take Effect

Ok, so now you have made some changes in your DNS records and you are not immediately observing the changes. That’s normal. DNS propagation is slow because servers in different parts of the world update them with the information. This latency is shaped by TTL (Time to Live), a feature that informs each server how long it is allowed to hold old data before it fetches an update. 

Changes do not propagate instantly everywhere and some servers complete their refreshing much faster than others. Visitors may be shown alternate versions of your site at this period, or have email hiccups, but with proper planning the likelihood of not being online is generally negated.

Tools and Methods to Verify DNS Changes

To check whether your updates are being received, there are a few tricks you can use:

DNS Lookup Tools

DNSChecker and similar sites can also take a look at your DNS records across different places in the world. You simply log into your domain and you will see whether the change has been effected in various countries. SiteGround also includes its own in-house tools that function more or less the same.

Command Line Checks

Assuming you are a bit more of a hands-on person, you can check the records directly using your command line on your computer. The commands such as nslookup, dig, or host can reveal to you exactly what a DNS server gives back at that point in time. It’s nerdy but accurate.

Clear Browser or System Cache.

In some cases, it is not even the DNS server- it is your browser or gadget that is holding on to old data. Clearing your browser cache or even from a different network, like a phone, may do the trick. That will be able to check up on whether there has been a real change through it.

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Conclusion

Managing your DNS zone on SiteGround is easy. There’s a bit of a learning curve, especially with all those different record types and technical terms flying around. But when you have done it once or twice, it all follows. It has been easy with SiteGround, though; the clean set up and the tools make it much easier.

You can create email accounts, redirect your domain to another one, or check things against third party services, it is all there in the DNS Zone Editor. It is entirely in your hands and you do not need to be an expert to figure it out. Just follow the order and be careful and most important always look at what you are adding or changing.

And bear in mind–propagation is slow. There is absolutely nothing wrong when you are not able to see your updates in real time. DNSChecker or a fast command lookup will also help you.

 It takes a little patience and a couple of clicks to be running your domain like a professional.

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FAQS (Frequently Asked Questions)

Where is the DNS zone editor in siteground?

.You will access your Client Area or Site Tools, whichever is the one which you feel more comfortable using. As soon as you get in, you will find DNS Zone Editor in the domain settings. All the magic occurs there.

Am I required to be ultra technical to handle DNS settings?

Not really. It is not as complicated as it sounds. After having poked your nose in a little, things begin to make sense. And SiteGround makes things tidy and slightly foolproof, which is very beneficial.

What if I mess something up? Will my site crash?

It can happen, yeah. Your email or site may break down if you delete or update the wrong record. But you see there is nothing to worry about, it is not forever. Once you identify which one thing has gone awry, you can often fix it within a very short time. Always check twice before saving.

Why don’t my modifications appear immediately?

That’s normal. It can take time before DNS changes spread throughout the internet, known as propagation. Sometimes it is quick, and other times draggy.It can take just a few minutes, or even 24-48 hours, depending on where you are and what kind of record you have edited.

What are important DNS records?

If you’re just running a site and email, these are the main ones:

  • A Record: points your domain to an IP
  • CNAME: links one domain to another
  • MX Record: handles email delivery
  • TXT Record: used for things like domain verification or email security

The rest are more niche unless you’re doing something specific.

How do I know if a DNS update worked?

There are tools for that. Experiment with web sites such as DoesMyNameGetCheck.org or WhatsMyDNS.net. And all you need is to enter your domain and it will tell you whether the new record is live in other parts of the world. Other times, emptying your browser history is the trick.

What happens when my domain is registered with SiteGround?

DNS can still be managed with SiteGround, although you will be required to point the nameservers to them first. Otherwise, the DNS Zone Editor would not be available. SiteGround will let you know if that’s the case—there’s usually a little warning at the top.

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