Configure private nameservers for your brand

Configure Private Nameservers for Your Brand with PlatiniumHost

As a hosting reseller, establishing a strong brand identity is crucial for the success of your business. One of the most effective ways to achieve this is by configuring private nameservers. Instead of using PlatiniumHost's default nameservers (like ns1.platiniumhost.com), you'll be able to use something like ns1.yourdomain.com and ns2.yourdomain.com, which adds a professional and trustworthy touch for your clients.

What are Private Nameservers and Why Should You Use Them?

Nameservers are like the Internet's phone book. They translate easy-to-remember domain names (like yourdomain.com) into numerical IP addresses that computers can understand. When a user types a domain name into their browser, their computer queries the nameservers to find the IP address of the server where the website is hosted.

Private nameservers, also known as "white-label nameservers" or "glue records," are nameservers that use your own domain name instead of your hosting provider's. For example, instead of using ns1.platiniumhost.com, you would use ns1.yourdomain.com. This offers several advantages:

• Consistent Branding: Reinforces your brand by displaying your own nameservers to your clients, eliminating any mention of PlatiniumHost.
• Professionalism: Projects a more professional image and greater control over your infrastructure.
• Client Trust: Your clients will see your own nameservers, which can increase their confidence in your service.
• Flexibility: Gives you the freedom to change your hosting provider in the future without your clients needing to update their nameservers, as these will remain yours.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have the following:

• A registered domain that you will use for your nameservers (e.g., yourdomain.com).
• Access to your domain registrar's control panel (where you purchased yourdomain.com).
• An active Reseller Hosting account with PlatiniumHost.
• The IP addresses for your nameservers. You can obtain these IPs from PlatiniumHost through your WHM panel or by contacting technical support. Generally, you will need two different IPs for ns1 and ns2, which correspond to PlatiniumHost's servers.

Step 1: Register Your Private Nameservers (Glue Records) with Your Domain Registrar

This is the most critical step and is performed in your domain registrar's control panel (GoDaddy, Namecheap, SiteGround, etc.). The exact process may vary slightly between registrars, but the logic is the same: you must "register" or "create" the hosts for ns1.yourdomain.com and ns2.yourdomain.com and assign them the IP addresses provided by PlatiniumHost.

1. Access Your Domain Registrar: Log in to the account where you registered the domain you will use for your nameservers (e.g., yourdomain.com).
2. Find the Private Nameservers/Host Records Section: Navigate to the domain management section. Look for options like "Register Nameservers," "Host Records," "Private Nameservers," or "Child Nameservers."
3. Create the Glue Records: You will need to create two entries:
   • Host 1: ns1.yourdomain.com with the first IP address provided by PlatiniumHost.
   • Host 2: ns2.yourdomain.com with the second IP address provided by PlatiniumHost.
   ns1.yourdomain.com -> YOUR_SERVER_IP_1
   ns2.yourdomain.com -> YOUR_SERVER_IP_2

   Make sure to replace yourdomain.com with your own domain and YOUR_SERVER_IP_X with the actual IPs.

4. Save Changes: Once you have entered both entries, save the changes.

Step 2: Configure the DNS Zone in cPanel (PlatiniumHost WHM)

Although glue records are created at your registrar, it's good practice to ensure that your main domain (the one you use for nameservers) has the correct A records in your WHM/cPanel for ns1 and ns2. This ensures that the PlatiniumHost server knows it is hosting these nameservers.

1. Access WHM: Log in to your WebHost Manager (WHM) provided by PlatiniumHost.
2. Edit the DNS Zone: In the WHM search bar, look for "Edit DNS Zone" or "DNS Zone Manager."
3. Select Your Domain: Choose the domain you are using for your nameservers (e.g., yourdomain.com) and click "Edit."
4. Verify/Create A Records: Make sure that A records exist for ns1 and ns2 that point to your server's IPs. If they don't exist, create them:
   • Name: ns1, Type: A, Address: YOUR_SERVER_IP_1
   • Name: ns2, Type: A, Address: YOUR_SERVER_IP_2

   These IPs must be the same ones you used in Step 1.

5. Save Changes: Click "Save" to apply the changes.

Step 3: Update the Nameservers for Your Domains (and Your Clients')

Once your private nameservers have been correctly registered and propagated (Step 1), you can now use them for your own domains and your clients' domains.

1. Access Your Domain Registrar: Log back in to your domain registrar.
2. Navigate to Nameserver Management: Look for the option to "Change Nameservers" or "Manage Nameservers" for the domain you want to point to your new private nameservers.
3. Enter Your Private Nameservers: Replace the current nameservers (likely PlatiniumHost's) with your private nameservers:
   • Nameserver 1: ns1.yourdomain.com
   • Nameserver 2: ns2.yourdomain.com
4. Save Changes: Save the modifications.

Repeat this step for all domains you want to use your private nameservers. You will need to instruct your clients to do the same with their respective domains, replacing PlatiniumHost's nameservers (or whichever they are using) with yours.

Verification and Troubleshooting

After performing all steps, it is essential to verify that your nameservers are working correctly:

• Whois Tools: Use an online whois tool to verify if your private nameservers appear as authoritative for your domain.
• DNS Checkers: Tools like whatsmydns.net or dnschecker.org allow you to see how your nameservers are propagating in different geographical locations.
• Terminal Commands: If you have terminal access, you can use dig yourdomain.com NS to see the nameservers your system is resolving.

If you experience problems, check the following:

• Do the IPs at your registrar exactly match those provided by PlatiniumHost?
• Is there any typo in the nameserver names?
• Have you waited long enough for DNS propagation?
• Are the A records for ns1 and ns2 correctly configured in your main domain's DNS zone in WHM?

If problems persist, do not hesitate to contact PlatiniumHost's technical support team. They can help you verify the server-side configuration and guide you with any steps that may be specific to their infrastructure.

Configuring private nameservers is a fundamental step to consolidate your brand as a hosting reseller and offer a more professional experience to your clients. With PlatiniumHost, you have the flexibility and support to achieve this successfully.