A simplified version of this guide can be found in the article Getting Started – DNS.
A video guide can be found in the article Video Guides – DNS Records.
This article covers the detailed setup of domain DNS records. If you only need to point DNS to VEDOS services, read the article Domains – Pointing DNS to services.
If you need to change the domain DNS servers (NSSET), follow the instructions in Domains – DNS servers (NSSET). More information about the difference between DNS records and DNS servers can be found in the article DNS – Manual.
In this article you will learn:
- How domain DNS records work
- What basic record types exist
- How to list and read domain DNS records
- How to add, delete, or edit domain DNS records
- Common problems
- Frequently asked questions
DNS records
DNS records point the domain and its subdomains (including www) to websites, emails, and other services on the Internet. For correct DNS operation, you need:
- Second-level domain (e.g. wds-test.cz), for which you will set up DNS.
- DNS servers where the DNS records will be stored. Usually, your domain registrar, hosting provider, or another service will provide them for you.
- Names, types, and data of DNS records that you obtain from the provider of the service to which you want to point the domain or subdomain.
Basic types of DNS records
Here you will find an overview of the most commonly used DNS records and links to their more detailed descriptions.
- A records are used to specify the IPv4 address of the server running your website. More information can be found in the article DNS – A and AAAA record types.
- AAAA records are used to specify the IPv6 address of the server with your website (if it uses this address). More information can be found in the article DNS – A and AAAA record types.
- ALIAS records can replace A and AAAA records for the main domain. More information can be found in the article DNS – ALIAS and CNAME record types.
- CNAME records are used for so-called domain aliases. More information can be found in the article DNS – ALIAS and CNAME record types.
- MX records are used to specify the names of MX mail servers that receive your mail. More information can be found in the article DNS – MX record type.
- TXT records are used to pass various domain settings, for example SPF and DMARC records.
We also support record types NS, SOA, DNAME, SRV, NAPTR, CAA, HTTPS, SSHFP and TLSA.
More detailed information about how DNS works can be found in the article DNS – Manual.
List of domain DNS records
Access the DNS record overview in these steps:
- Log in to the customer administration.
- In the top menu, select DNS.
- Open the details of the specific domain.
- In the menu on the left, click the DNS records link.
The table shows a list of DNS records for the given domain. Each record contains:
- Name relative to the current domain (do not specify the domain name itself). An empty name corresponds to a record directly for the given domain; otherwise, it is the name of a subdomain. The * character in the name corresponds to all other subdomains that are not directly listed in DNS.
- TTL, i.e. the time after which the record is updated. It is usually set to 1800 s (30 minutes) or 300 s (5 minutes). TTL values for records with the same name and type must be the same.
- Type, which determines the purpose of the record. More information can be found in the chapter Basic types of records and their use.
- Data, i.e. the actual instructions for domain behavior.
Managing DNS records
Changes to DNS records are usually reflected within 60 minutes.
Before вмешing into DNS records, make sure you know the current provider of the domain's DNS servers.
Changes to DNS records at VEDOS will not take effect as long as the domain uses DNS servers from another provider.
Work with the listed DNS records using the controls directly in the overview. You can add, edit, or delete records.
Adding a record
To add a new record in the list, follow these steps:
- Click the new record button above the list of DNS records.
- In the details, fill in the name, TTL, type, and data. If the record concerns the main domain, leave the name field empty.
- Click the Save record button.
When creating a new record, follow these rules:
- For a record for the main domain (e.g. wds-test.cz), leave the name empty.
- For all otherwise unspecified subdomains, enter the character * in the name;
- For a specific subdomain, enter only its name without the name of the domain itself for which you are setting up DNS (e.g. for obchod.wds-test.cz enter only obchod). For this subdomain, records with the * character in the name do not apply.
Editing a record
To edit the TTL or record data, follow these steps:
- Click the pencil icon on the left side of the corresponding table row.
- Enter the required changes in the record details.
- Click the Edit record button.
If you need to change the record name or type, delete the original record delete it and add a new one instead with the correct data.
After finishing the edits, click the Apply changes button. This confirms your choices and prepares them for further processing. If you do not confirm the changes with the button, the system will apply them automatically after 5 minutes.
Deleting a record
You can delete an unnecessary record by clicking the red X button on the left side of the record list.
If you want to delete multiple records at once, follow these steps:
- For the items you want to delete, check the checkboxes on the left side of the record list.
- Click the Delete selected records button.
Common problems
The most common problems when working with DNS records include:
- An error message appears when creating or editing DNS records
- Changes to records do not appear
- The original website is displayed
- Emails are not being delivered
Errors when creating/editing DNS records
Problem: An error message appears when creating or editing.
Cause: DNS records must meet certain conditions in order to work correctly. The system blocks the insertion of records that violate these conditions.
Solution: Adjust the DNS records so that they resolve the error shown in the message. Common errors and their solutions include:
- Cannot insert a record with the same name and type if the TTL values do not match: Correct the TTL value so that it matches records with the same name and type that you already have in the table. The most common values are 300, 1800, or 3600.
- Incorrect A/AAAA record value entered. An IPv4/IPv6 address must be entered: Check that the data field contains only one address in the required format and no other data.
- Incorrect MX record value entered. It must be in the format numeric priority + space + domain name of the mail server: Check that the data field contains a number (if you do not know which one, enter 1) followed by a space and the MX server address of your provider. Enter the address without protocols (http, https) according to the example shown.
If you need to enter multiple MX servers, create a separate record for each one. - Cannot insert a CNAME record with this name: Adjust the record name so that it contains either the * character or a valid subdomain name. The name of a CNAME record must not be empty.
- Cannot insert any record for a name for which a CNAME record exists: If you need to replace the current subdomain records with a CNAME record, delete all other records containing this subdomain in their name (including higher-level subdomains). Then enter the CNAME record again.
If you need to add a record of another type to a name for which a CNAME exists, delete the existing CNAME and resolve the domain pointing in an alternative way, for example using A or AAAA records. - Maximum number of records for this domain is 50: If you need to enter more than 50 records for the domain, contact support ⧉ to request an increase of this limit. Provide the domain name and the justification for increasing the DNS record limit.
Changes to records do not appear
Problem: More than 60 minutes have passed since the records were changed, but the change has not taken effect.
Cause: The most common cause is that you are using DNS servers from another provider, or you accidentally entered a value into the name field that includes the domain name (e.g. sub.domena.tld, instead of just sub).
Solution: Make sure you are using WEDOS DNS servers (NSSET) and that they have not been changed in the last 48 hours. Also check that the record name field does not contain the domain name.
The old website is displayed
Problem: After changing the A and CNAME DNS records to a new web hosting provider, the old website is still displayed.
Cause: Most often this is due to forgetting to edit or delete AAAA records, which also point the website.
Solution: If the new provider does not support AAAA records, delete all records that point the domain to the original web hosting. Also check that no old A records remain in the DNS records.
Emails stopped being delivered
Problem: After changing MX DNS records to a new provider, emails stopped being delivered.
Cause: Most often an accidentally entered name gets in the way in the record (often e.g. mail). Less often, you have MX records from different providers listed for the domain, and mail is going to a different provider than the one you expect.
Solution: Create the records again with an empty name.
If you have MX records from multiple providers listed for the domain, delete all MX records except those of the current provider.
Frequently asked questions
According to the setup instructions for my service, I need to enter a DNS record with the name @. How do I do that?
Leave the name field empty in this case. Do not add the @ character or the main domain name.
How do I point the eshop subdomain somewhere else than the rest of the website?
Follow the instructions in DNS – Subdomains.
I switched to web hosting that does not have an IPv6 address. Can I delete the old AAAA records?
Yes, definitely delete the old AAAA records. Some services prefer them over A records and then point the domain to a non-existent hosting.
How long does it take for WEDOS to publish my record?
If you use our DNS servers, the record will be published within 1 hour (unless you have an especially long TTL set). If you do not use our DNS servers, a record change made with us will not be reflected on the Internet in any way.