What is DNS?
What is a DNS Record?
A DNS record points specific parts of your DNS to a domain or IP. For example, we have many users that subscribe to G Suite. If you want to use Google's (instead of InMotion Hosting's) servers for your email, you will need to point your MX Records to Google's mail servers. Google provides you with these records, here.
Another example of a DNS record is a CNAME record. A CNAME record simply points a domain to another domain. The most common, yet transparent, CNAME record example would be the www subdomain that simply points to the domain without www. A DNS lookup of the www.example.com CNAME record would indicate to resolve the A record for example.com and navigate to the IP stored in that A record. This allows visitors of your site to use www.example.com or example.com to reach your site and see the same content.
How Long Do DNS Changes Take?
DNS changes can take up to 24 hours to take effect. This period of time is referred to as propagation.
How do I view and add DNS records?
Before you make any DNS changes, make sure that you understand the records you are adding and the effect they may have on your website or web-based application. Follow the directions below to view and add the DNS records for the domains in your account.
How to View DNS Records
You can view most of your DNS records in the Zone Editor, which is in cPanel under the Domains section.
How to Add Common DNS Records
Shared Servers
To add A, MX, and CNAME records, you will need to access the, Zone Editor within your cPanel. This feature is located within cPanel's Domains section. Here is a link to our guide providing instructions for adding DNS records using the cPanel Zone Editor.
VPS and Dedicated Servers
If you are on a Virtual Private Server or Dedicated server, you also will have access to the Zone Editor. Not only will the Zone Editor allow you to add DNS records, but it will allow you to edit current records as well.
Instructions on adding A records and CNAME records in both cPanel and WHM can be found here:
SPF and DomainKeys
SPF and DomainKeys are types of TXT records, and are tools used by many mail servers in an effort to combat spam. To find out more information on these types of records, please see the following page: Fighting Spam with SPF and DKIM
