NS Record Format
The structure of an NS record follows the format defined in RFC 1035, Section 3.3.11. The RDATA section is composed of one element:
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| NSDNAME | A fully qualified domain name that specifies the authoritative name server for the delegated domain or zone. |
The canonical representation is:
NS <nsdname>
where <nsdname> is a fully qualified domain name such as ns1.dnsimple-edge.com.
A complete NS record in a zone file looks like:
example.com. 3600 IN NS ns1.dnsimple-edge.com.
For a deeper explanation of what NS records are and how they work, see What Is an NS Record?
DNSimple fields
In DNSimple, NS records for subdomains are represented by the following customizable elements:
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Name | The subdomain to delegate, without the apex domain name. DNSimple automatically appends the domain name. Use @ to refer to the apex domain. |
| TTL | The time-to-live in seconds. This is how long resolvers are permitted to cache the record. |
| Name Server | The fully qualified hostname of the authoritative name server. Must be a hostname, not an IP address. |
Apex and subdomain NS records
NS records at the apex of a zone in DNSimple are system-managed and cannot be edited through the standard record editor. They reflect either the DNSimple edge name servers or your configured vanity name servers. For information on updating apex zone NS records, see Zone NS Records.
NS records for subdomains can be created and managed through the record editor to delegate a subdomain to a separate set of name servers. See Adding NS Records for a Subdomain for step-by-step instructions.
Have more questions?
If you have additional questions or need any assistance with your NS records, just contact support, and we will be happy to help.