Set up nameservers in WHM: Difference between revisions

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This article provides details on how to configure server-wide and reseller specific name servers on a cPanel server. Configuring name servers in cPanel will make it so that newly created accounts will have NS records created within their DNS zones that point to the name servers specified.
Nameservers tell the internet which servers hold a domain's DNS records. WHM adds the nameservers you set here to the DNS zone of every new account you create.


'''Please note''' - configuring name servers on a cPanel server will *not* point your domains to them. You will still need to point your domains to the name servers at their respective registrars.
Setting nameservers in WHM doesn't change any domain's nameservers. Each domain must also be pointed to them at its registrar. See [[Change your domain's nameservers]].


==Server-Wide Name Servers==
== Reseller hosting ==
'''You will need root access to your server in order to do this.'''


1) Log into your server's WHM (Web Host Manager) as root.
DNS for the accounts on our reseller servers is served by our nameservers:


2) Click on 'Basic cPanel & WHM Setup' which is under the 'Server Configuration' section.
ns1.acenet-inc.net
ns2.acenet-inc.net
ns3.acenet-inc.net
ns4.acenet-inc.net


3) Specify the name servers in the following fields near the bottom of the page:
=== Check or change your nameservers ===
*Nameserver 1
*Nameserver 2
*Nameserver 3 (if applicable)
*Nameserver 4 (if applicable)


4) Click the [[File:Whm_save_changes.jpg‎]] button.
'''1.''' Log in to WHM. See [[Log in to cPanel and WHM from the Client Area]].


==Reseller Specific Name Servers==
'''2.''' Go to '''Server Configuration''' > '''Basic WebHost Manager Setup'''.
There are a couple of different ways to do this. You can do this when logged into WHM as root or the reseller can do this themselves when logged into their WHM.


====WHM as root====
'''3.''' In the '''Nameservers''' section, enter your nameservers.
1) Log into your server's WHM (Web Host Manager) as root.


2) Click on 'Reseller Center' which is under the 'Resellers' section.
'''4.''' Click '''Save Changes'''.


3) Select the reseller account you're configuring the name servers for from the 'Select a Reseller' drop down.
The change applies to accounts you create from now on. Existing accounts keep the nameserver records already in their DNS zone. You can change those in '''DNS Functions''' > '''DNS Zone Manager'''.


4) Click the [[File:Whm_edit_privileges_nameservers.jpg‎]] icon.
=== Use your own branded nameservers ===


5) Specify the name servers in the following fields near the bottom of the page:
You can use nameservers on your own domain, such as ''ns1.example.com'', so your clients see your name instead of ours. They're simply new names for our nameservers, so DNS keeps working the same way.
*Nameserver 1
*Nameserver 2
*Nameserver 3 (if applicable)
*Nameserver 4 (if applicable)


6) Click the [[File:Whm_save_all_settings.jpg‎]] button.
'''1.''' Look up the IP address of each of our nameservers, for example with an online DNS lookup tool or this command:
====WHM as reseller====
nslookup ns1.acenet-inc.net
1) Log into your server's WHM (Web Host Manager) as the reseller.


2) Click on 'Basic cPanel & WHM Setup' which is under the 'Server Configuration' section.
'''2.''' At your domain's registrar, register ''ns1.example.com'' to ''ns4.example.com'' as nameservers (registrars also call them child nameservers, glue records or host records). Use the IP address of ''ns1.acenet-inc.net'' for ''ns1.example.com'', and so on.


3) Specify the name servers in the following fields:
'''3.''' In your domain's DNS zone, add an '''A''' record for each of the four names with the same IP addresses.
*Nameserver 1
*Nameserver 2
*Nameserver 3 (if applicable)
*Nameserver 4 (if applicable)


4) Click the [[File:Whm_save_changes.jpg‎]] button.
'''4.''' Enter the four names in '''Basic WebHost Manager Setup''', as above.
[[Category:WHM (Web Host Manager)]]
 
Registrars store these IP addresses as you enter them, so they won't change if our nameservers' addresses ever do. If you'd rather not look after this, use ns1-4.acenet-inc.net.
 
== Your own server (cloud or dedicated) ==
 
First decide where your domains' DNS will be hosted:
 
* '''On your server.''' cPanel includes a DNS server. Create nameservers on one of your domains, such as ''ns1.example.com'' and ''ns2.example.com'', that point to your server's IP addresses. Use two different IP addresses if you have them. Because both nameservers are on the same server, your domains' DNS stops working if the server goes down.
* '''With an outside DNS provider''', such as Cloudflare or your registrar. You then manage DNS records with that provider, and changes you make in WHM or cPanel don't take effect publicly.
 
If you're not sure which one your server uses, please [[Open a support ticket|open a support ticket]].
 
=== Set up nameservers on your server ===
 
'''1.''' At your domain's registrar, register ''ns1.example.com'' and ''ns2.example.com'' as nameservers (child nameservers or glue records) with your server's IP addresses.
 
'''2.''' Log in to WHM as root and go to '''Server Configuration''' > '''Basic WebHost Manager Setup'''.
 
'''3.''' In the '''Nameservers''' section, enter the nameservers. Click '''Configure Address Records''' next to each one to create its '''A''' record on your server.
 
'''4.''' Click '''Save Changes'''.
 
To set different nameservers for a reseller on your server, use '''Resellers''' > '''Edit Reseller Nameservers and Privileges'''. See cPanel's [https://docs.cpanel.net/whm/server-configuration/basic-webhost-manager-setup/ Basic WebHost Manager Setup] and [https://docs.cpanel.net/whm/resellers/edit-reseller-nameservers-and-privileges/ Edit Reseller Nameservers and Privileges] documentation for details.
 
New nameservers can take up to a day or two to work everywhere, while DNS caches around the internet update.
 
[[Category:WHM]]

Latest revision as of 10:26, 27 October 2026

Nameservers tell the internet which servers hold a domain's DNS records. WHM adds the nameservers you set here to the DNS zone of every new account you create.

Setting nameservers in WHM doesn't change any domain's nameservers. Each domain must also be pointed to them at its registrar. See Change your domain's nameservers.

Reseller hosting

DNS for the accounts on our reseller servers is served by our nameservers: 

ns1.acenet-inc.net
ns2.acenet-inc.net
ns3.acenet-inc.net
ns4.acenet-inc.net

Check or change your nameservers

1. Log in to WHM. See Log in to cPanel and WHM from the Client Area.

2. Go to Server Configuration > Basic WebHost Manager Setup.

3. In the Nameservers section, enter your nameservers.

4. Click Save Changes.

The change applies to accounts you create from now on. Existing accounts keep the nameserver records already in their DNS zone. You can change those in DNS Functions > DNS Zone Manager.

Use your own branded nameservers

You can use nameservers on your own domain, such as ns1.example.com, so your clients see your name instead of ours. They're simply new names for our nameservers, so DNS keeps working the same way.

1. Look up the IP address of each of our nameservers, for example with an online DNS lookup tool or this command: 

nslookup ns1.acenet-inc.net

2. At your domain's registrar, register ns1.example.com to ns4.example.com as nameservers (registrars also call them child nameservers, glue records or host records). Use the IP address of ns1.acenet-inc.net for ns1.example.com, and so on.

3. In your domain's DNS zone, add an A record for each of the four names with the same IP addresses.

4. Enter the four names in Basic WebHost Manager Setup, as above.

Registrars store these IP addresses as you enter them, so they won't change if our nameservers' addresses ever do. If you'd rather not look after this, use ns1-4.acenet-inc.net.

Your own server (cloud or dedicated)

First decide where your domains' DNS will be hosted:

  • On your server. cPanel includes a DNS server. Create nameservers on one of your domains, such as ns1.example.com and ns2.example.com, that point to your server's IP addresses. Use two different IP addresses if you have them. Because both nameservers are on the same server, your domains' DNS stops working if the server goes down.
  • With an outside DNS provider, such as Cloudflare or your registrar. You then manage DNS records with that provider, and changes you make in WHM or cPanel don't take effect publicly.

If you're not sure which one your server uses, please open a support ticket.

Set up nameservers on your server

1. At your domain's registrar, register ns1.example.com and ns2.example.com as nameservers (child nameservers or glue records) with your server's IP addresses.

2. Log in to WHM as root and go to Server Configuration > Basic WebHost Manager Setup.

3. In the Nameservers section, enter the nameservers. Click Configure Address Records next to each one to create its A record on your server.

4. Click Save Changes.

To set different nameservers for a reseller on your server, use Resellers > Edit Reseller Nameservers and Privileges. See cPanel's Basic WebHost Manager Setup and Edit Reseller Nameservers and Privileges documentation for details.

New nameservers can take up to a day or two to work everywhere, while DNS caches around the internet update.

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