Managing Domain Names with Off-Site DNS
If you registered your domain name with another registrar, you can still manage its zone file records with us by using Off-site DNS.
In the DNS Manager, you can add or cancel Off-site DNS for a domain name. Then, you can manage its zone file records in the Zone File Editor.
Off-site DNS does not support Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs). For more information about IDNs, see What are Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs)?
TIP: If you plan to transfer a domain name's registration to us, you can keep its zone file intact by adding Off-site DNS for the domain name prior to initiating the transfer. See the Adding Off-site DNS for a Domain Name section below for details. For more information about transferring domain names to us, see Transferring Domain Names to Us.
Adding Off-site DNS for a Domain Name
To manage the DNS for an off-site domain name, you must add it to the DNS Dashboard, and then change your nameservers at your current registrar.
To Add Off-site DNS for a Domain Name
- Log in to your Account Manager.
- Next to Domains, click Launch.
- From the DNS menu, select DNS Manager.
- From the Off-site menu, select Add Off-site. The Add Off-site DNS window displays.
- In the Domain name field, enter the domain name you want to manage with Off-site DNS.
- (Optional) If you plan to transfer the domain name's registration to us and you want to transfer its existing DNS records as well, select The domain will be transferred ... . We apply the zone file to the domain name upon transfer. Otherwise, de-select this option.
- Click OK. The domain name displays in your Domain list with (Off-site) next to it.
NOTE: If your domain name does not display, click
to refresh the list. - Contact your current registrar to update your nameservers to the following:
Standard DNS
mns01.domaincontrol.com
mns02.domaincontrol.comPremium DNS
You can find your domain name's Premium DNS nameservers in the Zone File Editor. To access the Zone File Editor from the Premium DNS Dashboard, click Edit Zone for the domain name you want to view, and then go to the NS (Nameserver) section. Your nameservers will be in these ranges:
[pdns01-pdns13].domaincontrol.com
[pdns02-pdns14].domaincontrol.comNOTE: Nameservers use consecutive odd and even pairs, so PDNS01.DOMAINCONTROL.COM works with PDNS02.DOMAINCONTROL.COM, whereas PDNS12.DOMAINCONTROL.COM would not work with PDNS13.DOMAINCONTROL.COM.
Accessing the Zone File Editor for a Domain Name with Off-site DNS
Once you add Off-site DNS for a domain name, you can add, edit, or delete its zone file records in the Zone File Editor. For more information about working with specific records, see Managing DNS for Your Domain Names.
To Access the Zone File Editor for a Domain Name with Off-site DNS
- Log in to your Account Manager.
- Next to Domains, click Launch.
- For the domain name you want to work with, click Edit Zone File from the drop-down menu. The Zone File Editor displays.
Canceling Off-site DNS for a Domain Name
In the DNS Dashboard, you can cancel Off-site DNS for a domain name.
To Cancel Off-site DNS for a Domain Name
- Log in to your Account Manager.
- Next to Domains, click Launch.
- From the DNS menu, select Off-site DNS.
- Select the domain name you want to cancel the Off-site DNS for.
- From the Off-site menu, select Cancel Off-site. The Confirm window displays.
- Select Are you sure ... , and then click OK.
- Click OK.
