Imagine trying to access a website, but instead of typing in an easy-to-remember domain name, like example.com, you had to enter a long series of numbers, like 198.51.100.45. Thanks to the Domain Name System (DNS), you don’t have to. DNS is the infrastructure that translates user-friendly domain names into numerical IP addresses that computers understand. It’s often been referred to as the phone book of the Internet. Without DNS, the convenience of browsing the web—typing in opensrs.com and magically arriving at our website— wouldn’t exist. 

Unsurprisingly, DNS management is important. Without it, you open yourself to security vulnerabilities, slow website performance, and even risk impacting services tied to your domain name, for example, email. 

At a high level, proper DNS management can be broken down into two components:

  • Properly configuring your DNS records.
  • Selecting a reliable DNS provider who can deliver speed and security.

In this post, we’ll cover both areas. 

Table of contents

Understanding DNS

Before we jump into why DNS management matters, let’s take a look at how DNS works. There are many parts to the DNS, but it boils down to a few essential pieces:

Your browser

When you type a domain name into your browser, it tries to find the IP address associated with that domain name and directs you to the website that lives there. If you’ve visited the website before, your browser will likely have the IP address stored or “cached,” which means it can immediately take you to the website. If it doesn’t know the IP address, it has to query it.

Recursive resolver

This is the first step in finding the IP address. Your computer sends a query to a DNS helper called a recursive resolver (also known as a resolving nameserver). While a resolver is not itself a directory, it will temporarily store IP addresses that have been recently queried. And if it doesn’t have the IP address you need cached, it will find it for you. Think of it like asking a librarian to find a book for you.

Root servers 

When a resolver doesn’t know the IP address, its first step is to check a starting directory called a root server. Root servers don’t store IP addresses or information about specific domain names, but they point the resolver to the appropriate top-level domain server. 

Top-level domain servers

Top-level domain (TLD) servers have a record of all domain names registered under a specific extension. If you’re trying to reach example.com, your resolver will be directed to the servers operated by the registry for .com domains. On these TLD servers, it will find the domain’s “nameserver record” (NS record). This NS record indicates which nameservers are authoritative for your domain name, meaning they house its full DNS records. 

Authoritative nameserver

The resolver’s final query is to the servers that know everything about the domain—they’re called the authoritative nameservers. The resolver retrieves the DNS records from the authoritative servers, which include the domain’s IP address. 

Connecting you to the domain

Finally, the resolver gives your browser the IP address, which your browser uses to connect to the server where the domain’s website files are stored. And just like that, the website loads on your screen.

The most impressive part? All of this happens in seconds.

Here’s a visual summary.

Infographic explaining how DNS (Domain Name System) works, showing domain queries traveling through a recursive resolver, root nameserver, TLD nameserver, and authoritative nameserver to resolve an IP address.

Why DNS management matters

Whether you run a personal blog, or an e-commerce store, or you’re managing multiple websites for your customers, DNS management is essential for keeping your online presence functional and secure. Let’s take a closer look.

Website performance and reliability: DNS determines how quickly users can access your site. Think of it like giving directions: if the instructions are clear and efficient, people arrive faster. A well-optimized DNS setup ensures your visitors are routed to the right server quickly, avoiding unnecessary delays.

Security: DNS is a key target for cyberattacks, including DNS hijacking and cache poisoning—which redirect visitors to malicious websites—and DDoS attacks, which overload servers with traffic to disrupt services. Securing your DNS setup is like locking the doors and windows of your digital property—it keeps attackers out and ensures users are safe.

Now that you know what DNS is and why it matters, let’s take a look at the common terminology and how to set up your DNS.

Common DNS terms to know 

This table includes some key terms to get you started, and you can find a more comprehensive list at the end of this guide. 

Term What it means
A record An address record. This connects your domain name to its IP address (IPv4).
It allows a domain, like example.com, to load by linking it to its IP address, such as 192.0.2.1.
AAAA record This is just like an A record but uses a newer type of IP address (IPv6).
It allows websites to work with the new Internet addressing system (IPv6). These addresses are longer than the older system (IPv4).
CNAME record A canonical name record. This maps a subdomain to another domain at the DNS level, essentially acting like a forwarding address.
Here’s what happens if the subdomain shop.example.com has example.com in its CNAME record: When a user types in shop.example.com, their resolver will query that domain, find its CNAME, and point the user to the IP address tied to example.com.
The most common use case is mapping the www. version of a domain, like www.example.com, to the primary domain, example.com. This ensures both websites always resolve to the same place, even if the IP address for the primary domain changes.
MX record A mail exchange record. This routes emails to specified mail servers.
It ensures emails sent to [email protected] arrive at your specified email service, such as OpenSRS Email.
TXT record A text record. These store helpful notes about a domain. It’s often used for verification or to provide additional details that other systems can use.
NS record A nameserver record. This indicates which nameservers are authoritative for your domain and store your domain’s full DNS information. The domain’s TLD server always stores its NS record.
DNS propagation The process by which changes to your domain’s DNS records (like updating an IP address or adding a new record) are distributed across DNS servers worldwide.

DNS setup for beginners

Choosing a DNS provider

Your DNS provider plays a critical role in your online setup. DNS providers are companies or organizations that host and manage the DNS services, ensuring domains resolve correctly and efficiently. They include: 

Domain registrars: A domain registrar allows you to register and manage a domain name. Often, they also provide DNS management, allowing you to connect the domain to your desired web hosting or email service and add and update other types of DNS records.
Web hosting companies: These companies provide the infrastructure and services to store the files that make up your website, so people can then access it online. They also often provide DNS management services.

Premium DNS providers: These are dedicated DNS companies that focus solely or primarily on DNS services. They often offer advanced features relevant to high-traffic websites or those that process sensitive data.

When choosing a provider, consider:

Reliability: Look for providers with strong uptime guarantees and redundant systems to ensure your services remain online.

Ease of use: An intuitive interface can make DNS management accessible even for beginners.

Advanced features: Tools like Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC), traffic routing, and analytics can enhance security and performance. These are discussed further below.

Making the right choice

If you have a simple website or blog with low traffic, sticking with your domain registrar or web hosting company for DNS management is often the easiest option and sufficient for many websites. However, if your website handles high traffic, relies on global accessibility, or requires enhanced security, a dedicated DNS provider may be a better choice.

Configuring DNS records

Once you’ve chosen a provider—for many people it will be your hosting provider or registrar— it’s time to set up your DNS records. Here’s how to approach the most common configurations:

Designating your authoritative nameservers

This is always done at your domain registrar. By default, your domain’s nameservers will be set to your registrar’s. If you’re instead planning on using your hosting provider, or a dedicated DNS provider to manage your DNS, you’ll need to update your nameservers. To do this, you’ll log into your domain registrar, find the DNS or nameserver settings for your domain, and enter the new nameservers supplied by your DNS provider.

Pointing your domain to a website

Use an A Record to map your domain to the IP address of your web hosting server. For example, if your hosting provider gives you the IP address 198.51.100.45, you’ll input that as the value for your A Record.

Setting up email

To ensure emails sent to your domain (e.g., [email protected]) reach your mail server, you’ll need to add the appropriate MX Records. Your email service provider will supply these. 

Mapping a subdomain to another domain’s DNS records Sometimes, you want a subdomain like shop.example.com to resolve to the IP address of another domain, like example.com. That way, no matter which the user types in, they’re routed to the same place. And, if the IP address for the primary domain is changed, the subdomain will automatically resolve to the correct place. In these cases, you can use a CNAME Record to point it to another domain or service.

The most common use case is mapping the www. version of a domain, like www.example.com, to the primary domain, example.com. This ensures both websites always resolve to the same place, even if the IP address for the primary domain changes.

Verifying DNS settings

After making changes to your DNS records, it’s essential to verify their accuracy. Many DNS providers offer tools in their dashboards to test configurations. Additionally, third-party tools can also help you monitor propagation and ensure your settings are correct.

Backup and recovery

You can mitigate the impact of accidental changes, errors, or cyberattacks to your DNS by downloading your DNS settings as a file from your DNS provider. Store this backup file securely in multiple locations, such as cloud storage or a password-protected drive, and ensure you update it whenever you make changes to your DNS. This information will help you quickly restore your DNS settings, and with them, your website, email, and other online services, if anything goes wrong.

This file is also important to have if you choose to switch your domain’s nameservers. Before you make the switch, you’ll want to properly configure your new nameservers with your existing DNS settings, and you can use your backup file to do this. If these records aren’t properly configured, your website or email services may experience downtime or stop working altogether once you make the switch. Keep in mind that it can take up to 24-48 hours for these changes to update across the Internet—this is known as a propagation delay. To minimize the impact on visitors, make the switch during a time when you expect less traffic.

Implementing DNSSEC

While some consider it an “advanced” feature, Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC) is essential. DNSSEC is a security protocol that prevents attackers from intercepting or tampering with DNS responses. It helps protect your visitors from phishing attacks or misdirected traffic. Many DNS providers offer DNSSEC as a built-in or free feature. In some control panels, enabling DNSSEC is as simple as turning on a toggle switch. With other providers, you may have to set it up manually, which requires technical knowledge beyond standard DNS management.

Advanced DNS management techniques

Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can explore advanced techniques to further optimize:

Load balancing and failover

For high-traffic websites, DNS load balancing distributes requests across multiple servers, preventing any single server from becoming overwhelmed. This setup improves both speed and reliability, ensuring visitors can access your site even during peak times. DNS Failover complements load-balancing by automatically rerouting traffic to a backup server if the primary one becomes unreachable, reducing downtime. Depending on your provider, load balancing may be configured automatically or require manual setup with traffic routing rules.

Monitoring and analytics

Tracking DNS queries and patterns can provide insights into potential issues or suspicious activity. Many DNS providers offer analytics dashboards to help you monitor performance and detect anomalies in real-time.

What happens when DNS issues occur? 

When DNS issues arise, the effects can range from minor inconvenience to major disruptions.

Common causes of DNS issues

Configuration Errors
Mistakes in DNS records or settings can cause services to stop working. 

The solution: Depending on your DNS provider, tools may be available to track DNS performance and send alerts for potential issues. If your provider doesn’t offer these services, consider third-party DNS monitoring tools.

Server outages
If your DNS provider’s servers go down, your DNS settings won’t be accessible.

The solution: Choose a DNS provider with built-in redundancy, meaning they have multiple servers around the world to keep your domain online even if one location has issues. Another option is setting up secondary DNS, which means using a second DNS provider alongside your primary one. If the first provider fails, the secondary provider takes over, ensuring your domain remains accessible. Both approaches help prevent downtime and improve reliability.

Cyberattacks
DNS is a common target for distributed denial-of-service attacks (DDoS) and DNS hijacking, which disrupt or redirect traffic, respectively.

The solution: Ensure DNSSEC is enabled to add a layer of protection. You can also consider additional security services, like DDoS protection, which many dedicated DNS providers offer. 

By preparing for potential issues and responding quickly, you can minimize disruptions and keep your website and services running smoothly.

Troubleshooting DNS issues

Even with proper management, DNS issues can occasionally arise. Here are some common problems and how to address them:

Website not loading: Double-check that your A record points to the correct IP address and that your nameservers are correctly configured at your domain registrar.

Email not working: Verify that your MX records match your email provider’s settings. Missing or incorrect records can disrupt email delivery.

Propagation delays: While inconvenient, they are common. Changes to DNS records can take up to 48 hours to propagate globally. Third-party tools can help you track the progress.

Maintaining your DNS

Effective DNS management isn’t a one-time task. Regular maintenance ensures your domain and its associated services continue to function optimally. Review your DNS records periodically to ensure they align with any infrastructure changes. Enable DNSSEC to secure your domain against threats. Monitor your DNS settings for unauthorized changes or emerging problems. By staying proactive, you can prevent issues and ensure your website and services remain reliable and secure.

DNS management with OpenSRS

When you register a domain through OpenSRS, you get managed DNS at no additional cost. It allows you to:

Create or edit DNS records: Easily set up or modify DNS records through an intuitive interface. Learn more.

Manage DNS templates: Create reusable DNS templates to reduce time spent on repetitive configurations and ensure consistency across all your domains. This can be done in the OpenSRS Reseller Control Panel and OpenSRS Storefront. 

Configure DNSSEC: Enable DNSSEC for free to protect your domains from potential security threats. Learn more.

Bulk edit DNS zone records: Efficiently manage multiple domains with bulk editing features to save time and reduce errors. Learn more.

Configure DNS for OpenSRS Email: Configure your DNS records to ensure your email services run smoothly. Learn more.

Configure DNS for third-party email services: Configure your DNS records to use third-party mail services with domains registered through OpenSRS.

Final thoughts

Proper DNS management is the foundation of a secure and high-performing online presence. The basics boil down to this: Choose a reputable DNS provider, configure your records correctly, and implement best practices like DNSSEC, load balancing, and regular monitoring. By doing so, you’ll safeguard against security threats and performance issues.

Glossary of terms related to DNS

Here’s a recap of all the terms we’ve covered so far, plus some additional ones you may come across.

Term What does that mean?
Domain name The user-friendly web address that’s used to access a website, like example.com.
Subdomain A prefix added to your domain name that directs visitors to a specific service or section of your website, like shop.example.com or blog.example.com.
DNS The Domain Name System is the global network of servers that translates domain names (e.g., example.com) into IP addresses (e.g., 192.0.2.1).
Nameservers Specialized servers that store and provide the DNS records for your domain. They act as intermediaries, answering queries and directing traffic to the appropriate locations.
DNS propagation The process by which changes to your domain’s DNS records (like updating an IP address or adding a new record) are distributed across DNS servers worldwide.
A record An address record. This connects your domain name to its IP address (IPv4).

It allows a domain, like example.com, to load by linking it to its IP address, such as 192.0.2.1.
AAAA record Just like an A record but uses a newer type of IP address (IPv6).

It allows websites to work with the new internet addressing system (IPv6). These addresses are longer than the older system (IPv4).
CNAME record A canonical name record. This maps a subdomain to another domain at the DNS level, essentially acting like a forwarding address.

Here’s what happens if the subdomain shop.example.com has example.com in its CNAME record: When a user types in shop.example.com, their resolver will query that domain, find it has CNAME, and point the user to the IP address tied to example.com.

The most common use case is mapping the www. version of a domain, like www.example.com, to the primary domain, example.com. This ensures both websites always resolve to the same place, even if the IP address for the primary domain changes.
MX record A mail exchange record. This routes emails to specified mail servers.

It ensures emails sent to [email protected] arrive at your specified email service, such as OpenSRS Email.
TXT record A text record. These store helpful notes about a domain. It’s often used for verification or to provide additional details that other systems can use.
TTL Time to live. This setting controls how long a domain’s DNS information stays stored (cached) before refreshing.

If a domain’s TTL is set to 1800 seconds, the resolver will cache the domain’s IP for 5 minutes before asking for it again.