Changing your Domain Records  | MX, CNAME, A Records, Nameservers

Sometimes you may need to manage your domain name and update specific record settings. Most commonly, you would change your Nameservers or MX records if you want to host your domain name elsewhere, or you have email services through another provider.

Note: The Domains & Email Advanced Settings section does not support shorthand / abbreviations. They can be entered in the fields, but will not be recognized.    

Manage your domain settings

 

Step 1: Go to your Dashboard  

 

Step 2 : Click the "Domains & Email" drop down and select "Advanced Settings"

   

 

If you have a domain name registered through Webs you have full control over the Nameservers, MX, A, and CNAME records.

Warning: Make sure you use caution when changing these settings. You can take your domain name offline if you do not set these records properly.

And remember all changes take 24 - 48 hours to take effect. 

Name Servers

Name Servers are often used to point your domain name to another hosting provider. The registration of your domain name will remain with Webs, but the content that appears on your domain name will be managed through your new hosting provider.

Changing Nameservers

1. On the "Advanced Settings" tab click the "+Add a New Nameserver" option 
2. Fill out the Name Server field click on the "Add Name Server" button

What are Nameservers?

In computing, a name server (also spelled nameserver) consists of a program or computer server that implements a name-service protocol. It maps a human-recognizable identifier to a system-internal, often numeric, identification or addressing component.

The most prominent types of name servers in operation today are the name servers of the Domain Name System (DNS), one of the two principal name spaces of the Internet. The most important function of these DNS servers is the translation (resolution) of humanly memorable domain names and hostnames into the corresponding numeric Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, the second principal Internet name space, used to identify and locate computer systems and resources on the Internet.

MX,  A, and CNAME Records

MX records are used when you want to set up email services through a different provider. CNAME records are used for a sub domain aliases. A records are most commonly used to map hostnames to an IP address of the host.

Changing the MX, A and CNAME records

What are MX Records?

A mail exchanger record (MX record) is a type of resource record in the Domain Name System that specifies a mail server responsible for accepting email messages on behalf of a recipient's domain and a preference value used to prioritize mail delivery if multiple mail servers are available. The set of MX records of a domain name specifies how email should be routed with the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol.

 

What are CNAME Records?

A CNAME record or Canonical Name record is a type of resource record in the Domain Name System (DNS) that specifies that the domain name is an alias of another, canonical domain name. This helps when running multiple services (like an FTP and a webserver; each running on different ports) from a single IP address. Each service can then have its own entry in DNS (like ftp.example.com. and www.example.com.). Network administrators also use CNAMEs when running multiple HTTP servers on the same port, with different names, on the same physical host.

 

What are A Records?

 

A records are most commonly used to map hostnames to an IP address of the host.

 

Common third party email service records

Godaddy:

Host: @ Address: smtp.secureserver.net Type: MX Priority:0
Host: @ Address: mailstore1.secureserver.net Type: MX Priority: 10

Click here for more information on how to activating your mail flow through Godaddy.

Google:

Host: @ Address: ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.COM Type: MX Priority: 1
Host: @ Address: ALT1.ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.COM Type: MX Priority: 5
Host: @ Address: ALT2.ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.COM Type: MX Priority: 5
Host: @ Address: ASPMX2.GOOGLEMAIL.COM Type: MX Priority: 10
Host: @ Address: ASPMX3.GOOGLEMAIL.COM Type: MX Priority: 10

Click here for more information on how to activating your mail flow through Google Apps.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take for the changes to apply?

24 - 48 hours.

What if my domain name stops working?

Remove the newly created records. You can remove all records and submit your changes to have the records reset to our default settings. Then, allow 24 - 48 hours for the records to properly update.