Managing DNS host records

Domain Name System (DNS) host records allow you to connect a domain to a web host or service such as Hosted email. 

When updating host records, be aware of the current nameservers.  The nameservers used by a domain dictate where the host records are active and managed.  Managing host records at Enom will not be active unless the domain uses Enom nameservers. 

Important: If your domain name is not using our default nameservers any changes made to the host records on our control panel will not affect your domain name.  

• Structuring host records
• Adding host records
  • Increasing host records
• Adding URL redirect host records
  • Adding URL frame host records
• Creating a sub-domain
• Changing MX Records
• Adding TXT, SPF, and SRV Records
  • Adding an SPF record
  • Adding an SRV record
• Supporting Domain keys (DKIM)
• DNS propagation checking tools

Structuring host records

A host record is comprised of three parts, telling the domain where to connect.

• Host Name - Represents a unique prefix used to label the host record.
• Record Type - The record type drop-down is the type of entry for the Address field.
• Address - The address is the destination for where you want a Host Name to resolve.

There are three standard hostnames that enable a stable DNS route to your domain.  Record types are the different methods that tell the domain where to point.

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Adding host records

DNS propagation is the time it takes for the DNS records to publish across the internet and may take up to 8-24 hours.

Updates to host records are measured in seconds and called time to live (TTL). The TTL default is 3600 seconds. This can be changed by submitting a support request.

Note: The TTL is reset back to 3600 after changes are made to the host records.

1. Locate the domain you want to manage by clicking Domains followed by My domains.
   
   
2. Search for the domain or choose from the list.
   
   
3. Choose Host records from the manage domain dropdown.
   
   

4. Enter the hostname.

   
5.  Select the Record type.
   
6. Enter the destination address and press Save.
   

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Increasing host records

There are 15 host records immediately available. For additional host record entries submit a verified support request.

Select New row to add additional rows.

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Adding URL redirect host records

A Uniform Resource Locator (URL) redirect and URL forward is a set of hostname records that sends your domain viewers to another URL.  You can forward your domain to most sites that are active and online.  We do not support SSL for URL-redirected domains, each site is responsible for its own SSL status.

1. Log into your Enom account.
2. Locate the domain you want to manage by clicking Domains followed by My Domains.
   
   
3. Search for the domain or choose from the list.
   
   
4. Choose Host records from the manage domain dropdown.
   
   

5. Create three records as seen in the image, replacing example.com with the desired redirection, and press Save.

   Note: Allow up to 24 hours to propagate, you may not see your webpage redirecting immediately.

   

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Adding URL frame host records

The difference between a URL Redirect and a URL Frame is when you visit an address using a URL Frame within a web browser it will keep the URL of your domain in the browser's address bar.  While a URL Redirect will display the destination site in the web browser's address bar.

Note: Please keep in mind that some sites like Facebook do not allow URL framing regardless of DNS setup.

1. Log into your Enom account.
2. Locate the domain you want to manage by clicking Domains followed by My Domains.
   
   
3. Search for the domain or choose from the list.
   
   
4. Choose Host records from the manage domain dropdown.
   
   

5. Create three records as seen in the image, replacing example.com with the desired redirection, and press Save.

   Note: Allow up to 24 hours to propagate, you may not see your webpage redirecting immediately.

   

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Creating a sub-domain

To set up a sub-domain like shop.example.com, you will need to have the IP it will redirect to and set it up in your host records. 
Note: The domain name should never be put under the hostname section.

1. Locate the domain you want to manage by clicking Domains followed by My domains.
   
   
2. Choose Host records from the manage domain dropdown.
   
   
3. Add the hostname for the subdomain.
   
4. Select A address.
   
5. Add the IP address and press Save.
   

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Changing MX Records

Enom's email service requires our MX record added to the domain.  Replace the section yourdomain with the desired domain name.

mx.yourdomain.cust.a.hostedemail.com

Note: If you are not using Enom's name servers, you need to contact your name server provider.

1. Locate the domain you want to manage by clicking Domains followed by My domains.
   
2. Select Email settings from the Manage domain dropdown.
   
3. Choose User (MX) under service selection.
   
4. Enter your MX record.
   Important: Please note that it's hostedemail, not hostedmail. 
   
5. Press Save.
   

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Adding TXT, SPF, and SRV records

TXT, SPF, and SRV records are supported on Enom's DNS servers. 

Adding an SPF record

SPF records are provided to you by your email hosting service. If Enom is your email provider, the following SPF record is automatically entered into your host records.

v=spf1 include:_spf.emfwd.name-services.com MX ?all

1. Locate the domain you want to manage by clicking Domains followed by My domains.
   
2. Go to Host records.
   
3. Click Add SRV or SPF record.
   
4. Select Add an SPF record. 
   
5. Enter the SPF text string and click Save.
   Note: The SPF record should follow this format: v=spf1 include:_spf.emfwd.name-services.com MX ?all.
   

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Adding an SRV record

1. Locate the domain you want to manage by clicking Domains followed by My domains.
   
2. Choose Host records.
   
3. Scroll down to the bottom of this page, and click Add SRV or SPF record.
   
4. Input your SRV records and press Save.
   

   SRV record type	SRV record action
   Service	The service name.
   Protocol	Lists the protocol used by the service, either TCP or UDP.
   Priority	Priority controls the order in which records are used when load balancing; lower numbers are used before higher ones.
   Weight	This is similar to priority, but lower numbers are used before higher ones with records having the same priority.
   Port	Defines the TCP or UDP port at which the service can be found.
   Target (hostname)	The record's destination will direct traffic.

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Supporting DomainKeys (DKIM)

DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM) records authenticate email signatures and prevent spammers from impersonating a domain.

Note: Due to our host records' maximum length limitation, we only support up to 1024-bit DomainKeys.

1. Locate the domain you want to manage by clicking Domains followed by My domains.
   
2. Go to Host records.
   
3. Select CNAME record type.
   
4. DKIM style formats, replace example.com with your domain.  Press Save.
   Note: Email providers will have the appropriate DKIM record to use. 
   

   Hostname	_domainkey.example.com
   Address	_domainkey.example.com
   Selector	selectorname._domainkey

   

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DNS propagation checking tools

After making a change to DNS, propagation will occur.  DNS propagation is the time it takes for the DNS records to publish across the internet.  There are online tools that help check if a record has been propagated.

• whatsmydns.net
• dnschecker.org
• dnspropagation.net

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