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What name servers do I use with my virtual dedicated server?

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Last Updated: July 15, 2008 1:58 PM

There are three steps to setting up DNS for Web sites hosted on your virtual dedicated server:

  1. Create a zone file for your domain in Plesk.
  2. Create and register domain hosts for your domain.
  3. Assign the name servers to your domain.

Step 1 - Creating a Zone File for Your Domain in Plesk

Plesk automatically creates a zone file for any domain you set up in Plesk. If you have already set up a domain in Plesk, you can skip this step.

To Create a Zone File for Your Domain in Plesk

  1. Log in to Plesk as an administrator.
  2. From the Clients section on the left, select the client you want to add a domain for.
  3. On the Clients page, select Add New Domain.
  4. Complete the domain form and click OK.
  5. Select the type of hosting you want to use for this domain and click OK.
  6. Complete the hosting setup page. Click OK.

NOTE: These changes to your dedicated server may take up to 24 hours to complete.

Step 2 - Creating and Registering Your Domain Hosts

Once you set up a domain and create a zone file in Plesk, you need to create and register two domain hosts for your domain. If your domain is registered with us, you can log in to your account manager to complete this step. If your domain name is registered with another company, you will need to contact them for instructions regarding domain host registration.

To Register Your Domain Hosts

  1. Log in to your Account Manager.
  2. In the My Products section, select Domains.
  3. Click on the domain you want to host on your dedicated server.
  4. Click Host Summary.

    5. NOTE: If you cannot make changes to your Domain Host Summary, your domain may be locked. To unlock your domain, select the domain you want to unlock ,and, under the Domain Details section on the right, click Unlock Domain.

  5. Select Click here to see details or to modify.
  6. In the Domain Hosts section, click Add New Host.
  7. Enter a name for each of your domain hosts. For example, ns1.yourdomainnamehere.com and ns2.yourdomainnamehere.com. This prefix can be anything you want it to be, but make it something easy for you to remember (like ns1 and ns2).

    8. NOTE: These two domain hosts can be used for other domains hosted on your virtual dedicated server. You do not need to create new domain hosts for each of your domains.

  8. Enter the IP address for your server. You can find the IP address for your server in your server manager or in Plesk.
  9. Click Save Changes.

Step 3 – Setting up Your Domain Name Servers

Now that you have created and registered two domain hosts, you need to set the name servers for your domain to point to your virtual dedicated server.

To Set up Your Domain Name Servers

  1. Log in to your Account Manager.
  2. In the My Products section, select Domains.
  3. Click on the domain you want to host on your dedicated server.
  4. Click NameServers Summary.
  5. Select Click here to see details or to modify.
  6. In the Set Name Servers section, select Custom Name Servers.
  7. For your name servers, enter the names of the domain hosts you created previously. For example: ns1.yourdomainnamehere.com and ns2.yourdomainnamehere.com.
  8. Click Save Changes.