Name Server Management at DNSimple

Table of Contents

• DNSimple name servers
• Understanding name servers
• Pointing a domain to DNSimple
• Changing delegation
• Name server sets and vanity name servers
• Troubleshooting
• Reference
• Have more questions?

DNSimple provides full control over name server delegation for domains registered or hosted with us. This guide organizes all name server documentation to help you find exactly what you need.

DNSimple name servers

• DNSimple Name Servers - The authoritative name server hostnames and IP addresses for DNSimple DNS hosting.

Understanding name servers

• What is a name server? - What authoritative name servers are and how they fit into DNS resolution.
• Domain Delegation and Name Servers Explained - How delegation, name servers, and DNS hosting fit together, and which guide matches your situation.
• What Is Domain Delegation? - How delegation works and what it means to point a domain at a DNS provider.
• Recursive vs Authoritative DNS Resolvers - The difference between resolvers that look up answers and servers that hold them.
• What Are Vanity Name Servers? - What vanity name servers are, why they exist, and when glue records are required.
• What Are Glue Records? - How glue records prevent circular lookups for in-bailiwick name servers.
• How DNS Caching and TTL Affect Delegation and Record Changes - Why delegation changes take time to propagate and how caching affects them.

Pointing a domain to DNSimple

• Pointing a Domain to DNSimple - Overview of the delegation process depending on where your domain is registered.
• Delegating a Domain registered with DNSimple to DNSimple - How to set DNSimple as the DNS provider for a domain you registered with us.
• Delegating a Domain registered with another Registrar to DNSimple - How to update delegation at an external registrar to use DNSimple name servers.

Changing delegation

• Change delegation to another DNS provider - How to point a DNSimple-registered domain at a different DNS provider.
• Adding NS Records for a Subdomain - How to delegate a subdomain to a separate set of name servers.
• Zone NS Records - How to update the NS records published at the apex of your zone.

Name server sets and vanity name servers

• Name Server Sets - How to create and use reusable groups of name server hostnames.
• Manage Vanity Name Servers - How to enable, configure, and disable vanity name servers on your domain.

Troubleshooting

• Troubleshoot DNSimple Name Servers - Steps to confirm delegation is correct and resolve common resolution issues.
• Troubleshoot Email or Subdomains After Delegation Changes - How to diagnose email or subdomain failures after changing name servers.
• Troubleshoot Domain Resolution Issues - Broader resolution troubleshooting covering WHOIS, propagation delays, and dig verification.

Reference

• Name Server Delegation Checklist - Quick-reference targets, verification commands, and related flows for delegation.
• Name Servers Glossary - Definitions for delegation, glue records, registrar, registry, vanity name servers, and other name server terms.
• NS Record Format - The RDATA structure, canonical zone file representation, and DNSimple fields for NS records.
• DNSimple Interface Reference for Name Server Management - Reference for the Edit Delegation, Name Server Sets, Vanity Name Servers, and Zone NS Records interfaces.

Have more questions?

If you have any questions about name server management at DNSimple, contact support, and we will be happy to help.