VPSWala Blog

How Do I Setup DNS For A VPS Hosted Website?

January 9, 2024, Written by 0 comment

Sup friends! I know you just got your spanky new website all set up on your German VPS. But now, it’s time to get DNS sorted so people can actually access your site!

DNS can get a bit tech-y, so let me break things down on how to point your domain to your VPS web server using DNS. I’ll try my darndest to avoid boring you with the nuances!

Wait WTH is DNS Again?

First, let’s refresh what DNS even does, huh?

See, web browsers and people use domain names like mynewsite.com to access websites. But computers/servers work using numerical IP addresses (yuck)!

DNS helps translate domains into IPs so requests get routed properly!

It’s like your domain is a fun nickname…but DNS reveals your computer’s true numeric identity to the world!

DNS is the phonebook of the internet!

So with your VPS already set up…you gotta configure DNS correctly to route domains to its IP!

Breaking Down the DNS Setup

Here are key concepts in DNS you gotta brush up on while pointing domains to your VPS:

Registrar

This is the service where you purchased your domain from. Popular registrars:

  • Godaddy
  • Namecheap
  • Bluehost
  • Name.com

They let you manage domain records.

Nameservers

These store DNS data to resolve domains into IPs! Each domain uses 4 default nameservers from the registrar.

You’ll change them to use VPS providers instead. More on that soon!

A Record

This maps a DOMAIN to an IP address. Required for routing traffic to your VPS IP!

CNAME Record

Maps one DOMAIN to another. Like an alias.

You’ll set one for www to catch that traffic Too.

TTL (Time To Live)

How long DNS data is cached before it refreshes. Lower TTL means faster DNS change propagation.

Also Read: How To Flush DNS Cache – Windows, Linux, Mac (Simple Tutorial)

Step 1 – Log into Domain Registrar

Okay, let’s get your hands dirty with the actual DNS setup!

First, log into your domain registrar control panel:

  • Godaddy – Account Manager
  • Namecheap – Domain List
  • Bluehost – My Sites

Once logged in, search for the DNS management settings.

For Godaddy, it is under:

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Domains > Manage > DNS

Find these DNS controls at your registrar to get started

Easy enough eh?

Now onto the fun part – reconfiguring those nameservers!

Step 2 – Change Nameservers to VPS Host

Next, you want to switch out the default nameservers to use your VPS host instead.

For VpsWala, here are their nameservers:

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ns1.vpswala.org ns2.vpswala.org
(just an example)

Simply change all 4 default nameserver entries to the above two at your registrar’s DNS control panel.

This now directs DNS queries for your domain to get resolved by VpsWala’s nameservers!

Change default nameservers to VPS host

Migrating your domain’s DNS resolution to your VPS provider

Step 3 – Configure A and CNAME Records

Woot! Your domain is now pointing DNS-wise to your VPS provider instead of the registrar.

Now comes the final step – creating the all-important A record to route traffic to your VPS server’s IP.

A Record to VPS IP

Simply set:

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Host: @ IP Address: 123.123.123.123 <-- Your VPS IP here! TTL: 3600 (1 hour caching)
(just an example)

This magical A record will redirect any traffic from your root domain directly to the VPS server!

Configuring A record to point domain to VPS IP

Route that domain to your shiny new VPS!

CNAME Record for www

Additionally, set a CNAME to catch traffic hitting the www subdomain:

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Host: www Points to: @ TTL: 3600

And voila! Your domain’s DNS now sends all traffic to your VPS hosting your site!

Give the settings 15-20 mins to propagate worldwide before testing!

Quick DNS Validation Methods

While waiting patiently for DNS to update globally, you can validate it’s working with:

1. Registrar DNS Tool

Most good registrars have a DNS propagate checker to see the A record in action.

2. Ping Test

Open command prompt/terminal and run:

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ping yourdomain.com

It should ping your VPS IP if DNS is correctly resolving traffic there!

3. Web Browser

Punch your domain into a browser and it’ll hit your VPS site hosted. Celebrate time!

Summing Things Up!

Phew, there you have it friends!

You now have the power to point your precious domains to route end traffic to your VPS hosting setup – the gateway to your website!

With VpsWala’s cutting-edge infrastructure behind it, your site performance will keep your visitors hooked for ages to come!

Let me know if any step was confusing or if you have any other questions!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I configure DNS through VpsWala panel too?

A: Yup, VpsWala has a simple DNS manager letting you set A and CNAME records all inside your VPS dashboard for convenience!

Q: How fast does DNS propagation happen usually?

A: For changed DNS records, give it ~15-30 mins to propagate to DNS caches globally after saving changes! Geographic location impacts this too.

Q: My DNS seems right but site still won’t load?

A: Outside of DNS issues, also ensure your VPS firewall, web server config (Nginx/Apache) and application code are correctly configured!

vpswala Admin

Savita Sathe is an experienced writer and editor with over 10+ years of professional experience creating engaging content across industries. Whether it's blogs, whitepapers, website copy, emails, social media posts, or more. She develops effective hosting and tech content that helps brands connect with their audiences and achieve business goals.

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