How do I use a domain's DNS Zone?

Procédure

I. Introduction to DNS Zone records

A. What is a DNS Zone record?

A DNS Zone record is a configuration that links your domain name (for example, mydomain.com) to various important information. This information allows users to access your website, receive emails related to your domain and set up security measures for your domain.

B. Role and importance of DNS Zone records

DNS Zone records are essential for your domain name. They perform three main functions:

1. Directing web traffic : The A record is used to redirect visitors to your website to the correct server. This allows users to enter your domain name in their browser and access your website.

2. Manage emails: The MX record specifies which mail servers should receive emails destined for your domain. This allows you to use a personalised e-mail address with your domain name and manage your e-mails professionally.

3. Securing your domain: TXT and SPF records strengthen the security of your domain. The TXT record can be used to verify your domain ownership when configuring certain services. The SPF record helps prevent unwanted e-mail by specifying which servers are authorised to send e-mail on your behalf.

By understanding these functions, you will be able to correctly configure and manage DNS Zone records for your domain name.

II. Best practice for configuring DNS Zone records

When configuring DNS Zone records for your domain name at LWS, it is important to follow certain best practices to ensure the smooth operation of your website and associated services, as well as to enhance the security of your domain. Here are some useful tips:

A. Security of DNS Zone records

The security of your DNS Zone records is essential to protect your domain name against potential attacks. Here are some recommended security measures:

1. Keep your credentials safe: Make sure you keep your LWS login credentials in a safe place. Avoid sharing them with unauthorised people and change your passwords regularly for optimum security.

2. Enable two-step validation: LWS offers a two-step validation option to enhance your account security. Enable this feature for an extra layer of protection.

3. Enable DNSSEC: DNSSEC (Domain Name System Security Extensions) is a technology that secures DNS records by adding an extra layer of protection by sealing your DNS records with encryption keys. This ensures that your domain information is authentic and unaltered when consulted by users.

B. DNS change propagation time

DNS propagation is the time it takes for changes to your DNS Zone records to propagate across the Internet and be visible to all users.

Think of DNS propagation as spreading news around the world. When you make changes to your DNS Zone records, you need to inform all DNS servers of these changes so that they can correctly redirect traffic to your website.

However, this is not done instantly. It takes time for DNS servers around the world to update their information with the new DNS configurations. This can take from a few minutes to several hours, and even up to 48 hours in exceptional cases.

During DNS propagation, different users may see your website differently. Some may still access your old website or your old configurations, while others may see the new changes you have made.

It is important to note that you have no direct control over the speed of DNS propagation. This depends on the individual configurations of DNS servers and how they update their information. However, by following good practices, such as those mentioned in this article, you can help speed up the propagation process.

To check whether DNS propagation is complete, you can use online tools called DNS propagation checkers, such as DNS Checker. These tools allow you to enter your domain name and see which DNS records are currently visible in different locations around the world.

In short, DNS propagation is the time it takes for changes to your DNS Zone records to be broadcast across DNS servers worldwide. Be patient during this process, as it can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours.

C. Use of sub-domains and redirects

Using sub-domains and redirects can be useful for organising your website and redirecting traffic effectively. Here are a few tips to bear in mind:

1. Subdomains: Subdomains allow you to create separate sections of your website, such as blog.yourdomain.com or shop.yourdomain.com. When configuring a sub-domain, use the CNAME record to associate the sub-domain with the corresponding IP address or domain name.

2. Redirects: If you want to redirect your main domain name to another website or URL, you can use redirect records. LWS offers easy-to-use redirection options for directing your main domain name to another website or URL.

III. Configuring DNS Zone records

Your domain's DNS Zone records are configured on the control panel that manages your LWS subscription:

• For formulas domains or hosting managed by the LWS Panel you must follow this documentation.
• For hostings with the cPanel control panel, you must follow this documentation.
• For Windows hosting with Plesk control panel, you must follow this documentation.
• For VPS hosting with ISP Config control panel, you must follow this documentation.

IV. Conclusion

In this article, we have explored in detail the operation and configuration of DNS Zone records for a domain name with the LWS hosting provider. Here is a summary of the key points you need to remember:

1. DNS Zone records are used to manage the various features of your domain, such as redirecting traffic to a specific server, configuring sub-domains, associated email addresses, etc.

2. The main types of DNS Zone records include A, CNAME, MX, TXT and NS records, each of which has a specific role in the configuration of your domain.

3. Editing DNS Zone records is usually done via your LWS account control panel. Make sure you access the appropriate section to make the necessary changes.

4. When making changes to your DNS Zone records, it is important to take into account the DNS propagation time, which is the time it takes for the changes to be visible across the Internet.

5. DNSSEC (Domain Name System Security Extensions) is a security measure that protects your domain name against DNS hijacking attacks by digitally signing your DNS records.

Remember that configuring DNS zone records may seem complex at first, but with practice and by following the instructions provided, you will be able to easily manage and customise the features of your LWS domain.