When you register a domain name at the domain name registrar, you can set up name servers for the domain name there.
A name server is a server that controls the DNS for a domain. It handles queries or questions from your local computer about the location of a domain name's various services.
Domain Name Servers are the Internet's equivalent of a phone book.
Which name servers you need to use depends on where it's registered and where your website is hosted.
What is a name server?
Nameservers are part of a larger domain called the Domain Name System (DNS), which acts as a phone book for network devices and IP addresses assigned to it.
Name servers look up the phone book to translate domain names into numerical IP addresses – a language our computers understand.
With the domain name translated into an IP address, the name server can then route your request to the server with the website you’re looking for.
This process is almost instant though it takes multiple steps.
Your browser contacts the name server, receives a response and directs you to the website you want in a matter of seconds.
The name servers also answer questions about other DNS records such as MX - what servers are responsible for receiving emails for your domain,
and CAA record - what certificate authorities are allowed to issue SSL certificates for your domain name.
How to set up name servers?
The domain registrar typically provides default name servers and you can manage the domain's DNS records with them.
However, you may also use name servers from a DDNS provider such as Dynu to keep your domain mapped to your dynamic IP address,
or your hosting provider that hosts your website.
The domain registrar, DNS host and website hosting provider can be one single host or 3 different companies.
For example, if you register your domain name with Dynu and use Dynu name server,
you can ask your web host for the IP address of the web server hosting your site and set up an A record with Dynu to point your domain to that IP.
When someone tries to reach your website, the internet will query Dynu name servers and ask for its IP address.
As an ICANN-accredited domain name registrar, Dynu also provides domain name registration services.
You may register your domain name with Dynu and use DNS hosting service from another provider, in which case, you can change the name servers
to those of that DNS provider. This comes free with the domain name registration and does not require additional services.
Name servers in the DNS zone v.s. domain registrar
There are two places where you can manage name servers.
One is at the domain name registrar, the other is the DNS zone.
When you list name servers at the domain name registrar, you are telling the internet what servers can answer questions about your domains services
such as where the website is hosted, what servers can receive emails for your domain etc. For example, you may list ns1.dynu.com and ns2.dynu.com
as name servers.
You can then sign up for Dynu's DNS/DDNS services and list name servers in the DNS zone to be ns1.dynu.com, ns2.dynu.com and ns3.dynu.com provided
that all 3 name servers have your DNS zone. In some cases, the domain registrar such as .DE requires that the name servers that you list at the registrar
match what you have in the DNS zone.
If you have any doubts about changing name servers, simply
give us a shout!
What are name servers and...