Exciting News: LucentHost is now an official Multi-Member LLC! Thank you for growing with us. Read it
Exciting News: LucentHost is now an official Multi-Member LLC! Thank you for growing with us. Read it
See exactly where a domain points: web servers, mail servers, nameservers and verification records. Free to use, no account needed.
DNS is the layer that turns a domain name into an actual destination. These are the ones you'll meet.
An A (Address) record matches a domain name to an IPv4 address, specifically the address of the machine hosting the desired resource for the domain. AAAA (also called quad A) records are the same as A records, but store the IPv6 address of the machine instead of the IPv4 address.
An MX (mail exchanger) record sets the mail delivery destination for a domain or subdomain. This tells others what server is operating as the mail server so emails are routed to that destination. If MX records are configured incorrectly, emails might not be delivered to the intended users.
TXT (text) records stores text and can be used to provide information about the domain. It is the most flexible DNS record type and can serve many different purposes, including email security (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) or prove ownership of a domain to an outside service.
A CNAME (Canonical Name) record maps one subdomain to another subdomain, a root domain, or even a different domain entirely. Essentially, it creates an alias to the specified target domain. CNAME records are very common and prevent administrators from repeating IP addresses or other information across multiple DNS records.
NS (Name Server) records specify the name servers used for a domain or subdomain. Name servers for the root domain (like example.com) are set directly on the domain's registrar, as well as through NS records. By default, two NS records are automatically created for you on DNS Manager.
A CAA (Certification Authority Authorization) record allows the owner of a domain to specify which certificate authority (or authorities) are allowed to issue TLS/SSL certificates for their domain. Rare, but it will silently block certificate issuance if it's set wrong.
Most hosting problems that look mysterious turn out to be a DNS record pointing somewhere it shouldn't.
Check the A record and the NS records. If NS still lists your previous provider, the A record you edited isn't the one being used.
Check MX. Moving hosting often resets mail routing, so mail heads to a server that no longer holds your mailboxes.
Look at TXT for an SPF record. No SPF, or one listing the wrong sender, is the most common cause.
The verification string goes in a TXT record. Check it's there, on the right hostname, and hasn't been overwritten.
Send us the domain and what should be happening. We fix records for customers as part of support or point you in the right direction either way.
