To open a website by name, the domain has to be connected to the IP address of your server. In LuxHost one DNS record in the billing is enough for that. Below: how NS servers differ from DNS records, which record to add, how long to wait until it works, and how to move a domain from another registrar to us while keeping the paid term and getting one more year on top.
NS servers and DNS records: what is the difference
NS servers answer the question "where is the information about the domain stored". DNS records are that information: which IP the site points to, where the mail goes, which subdomains exist. If you think of a domain as a phone book, NS servers are the address of the information desk and the records are the numbers inside it.
A domain bought at LuxHost works on our NS servers right away, so all you have to do is add records in the billing. If the domain was bought at another registrar, you can add the records there, or transfer the domain to us and manage everything from one account. Premium DNS for domains at LuxHost is free.
How to add a DNS record in the LuxHost billing
1. Log in to the LuxHost billing.
2. Open the domain in the list of services. If you do not have a domain yet, buy one and it appears in the list after activation.
3. Go to the domain settings.
4. Click "Add record", choose the record type and fill in the name and the value.
5. Save the record.
The IP address you need for the record is on the page of your server in the billing.
Which records are needed for the site to open
One A record is enough: put @ in the name field and the IP of your server in the value field. A separate record for www is needed only if you want the site to open at www.example.com as well. Few people type www these days, so for a new site you can skip it.
Other record types become useful when you connect mail or external services:
- A: connects a domain or subdomain to the IPv4 address of a server. Example: @ -> 185.0.0.1
- AAAA: the same for an IPv6 address. Example: @ -> 2a01:4f8::1
- CNAME: makes a subdomain an alias of another domain. Example: www -> example.com
- MX: tells which mail service receives the mail of the domain. Example: @ -> your mail service server
- TXT: stores text for checks, such as domain verification in services or SPF for mail. Example: @ -> v=spf1 include:... ~all
To check where the domain points right now, run this in the terminal or the Windows command line:
nslookup example.com
The answer should show the IP of your server. If you see the old address, the update has not reached your internet provider yet.
How to connect a domain bought at another registrar
Option one fits if you want to keep the domain where it is: open the panel of your current registrar and add an A record with the IP of your LuxHost server, the same way as described above. You will manage DNS in the registrar's account.
Option two is more convenient if you want the domain and the servers in one place: transfer the domain to LuxHost. How to do that is in the next section.
How to transfer a domain to LuxHost and keep the registration term
A domain in any zone can be transferred to us. The whole remaining paid term is kept, and one more year is added to it. After the transfer the domain, DNS and servers live in one billing, Premium DNS is connected for free, and you can renew the domain with crypto or a card, no KYC.
The transfer takes three steps:
1. At your current registrar remove the transfer lock (Transfer Lock) and get the authorization code. It is also called the EPP code or Auth code.
2. Click "Transfer it" next to the domain, enter the domain name and the EPP code in the window that opens and confirm.
3. Confirm the transfer if your current registrar sends an email to the domain owner.
The domain transfer window.
The transfer itself takes up to a few hours. For domains in international zones such as .com an ICANN rule applies: a domain cannot be transferred within 60 days after registration or after the previous transfer.
How long to wait until the domain works
In the LuxHost zone a new record applies instantly, but then it has to be picked up by backbone internet providers, which keep domain data in cache. This takes from 5 minutes to 24 hours, and in most cases 5 to 10 minutes. While the update spreads, some visitors already see the site from the new server and others still see the old one.
If a day has passed and nslookup still shows the old IP, check that the record is saved with the right address and write to support.
Summary: one A record with the server IP is enough for a site, and a domain from another registrar can be transferred to LuxHost with the term kept and a year on top.
FAQ
Do I need to change NS servers if the domain was bought at LuxHost?
No, unless you changed them yourself. The domain is registered on our NS servers, but they can be changed at registration or later. If you did that, the records in the LuxHost billing will not work while the domain points to other NS servers. Either set the LuxHost NS servers back in the domain settings, or add the records where your NS servers point.
Can one domain be connected to several servers?
Yes. The main domain can point to one server, and subdomains such as shop.example.com or api.example.com to other servers. Each one gets its own A record.
What happens to the registration term when I transfer a domain to LuxHost?
The whole remaining term is kept, and one more year of registration is added.
Need help?
If the site does not open after the setup, write to support and give the domain, we will check the records.
NS servers and DNS records: what is the difference
NS servers answer the question "where is the information about the domain stored". DNS records are that information: which IP the site points to, where the mail goes, which subdomains exist. If you think of a domain as a phone book, NS servers are the address of the information desk and the records are the numbers inside it.
A domain bought at LuxHost works on our NS servers right away, so all you have to do is add records in the billing. If the domain was bought at another registrar, you can add the records there, or transfer the domain to us and manage everything from one account. Premium DNS for domains at LuxHost is free.
How to add a DNS record in the LuxHost billing
1. Log in to the LuxHost billing.
2. Open the domain in the list of services. If you do not have a domain yet, buy one and it appears in the list after activation.
3. Go to the domain settings.
4. Click "Add record", choose the record type and fill in the name and the value.
5. Save the record.
The IP address you need for the record is on the page of your server in the billing.
Which records are needed for the site to open
One A record is enough: put @ in the name field and the IP of your server in the value field. A separate record for www is needed only if you want the site to open at www.example.com as well. Few people type www these days, so for a new site you can skip it.
Other record types become useful when you connect mail or external services:
- A: connects a domain or subdomain to the IPv4 address of a server. Example: @ -> 185.0.0.1
- AAAA: the same for an IPv6 address. Example: @ -> 2a01:4f8::1
- CNAME: makes a subdomain an alias of another domain. Example: www -> example.com
- MX: tells which mail service receives the mail of the domain. Example: @ -> your mail service server
- TXT: stores text for checks, such as domain verification in services or SPF for mail. Example: @ -> v=spf1 include:... ~all
To check where the domain points right now, run this in the terminal or the Windows command line:
nslookup example.com
The answer should show the IP of your server. If you see the old address, the update has not reached your internet provider yet.
How to connect a domain bought at another registrar
Option one fits if you want to keep the domain where it is: open the panel of your current registrar and add an A record with the IP of your LuxHost server, the same way as described above. You will manage DNS in the registrar's account.
Option two is more convenient if you want the domain and the servers in one place: transfer the domain to LuxHost. How to do that is in the next section.
How to transfer a domain to LuxHost and keep the registration term
A domain in any zone can be transferred to us. The whole remaining paid term is kept, and one more year is added to it. After the transfer the domain, DNS and servers live in one billing, Premium DNS is connected for free, and you can renew the domain with crypto or a card, no KYC.
The transfer takes three steps:
1. At your current registrar remove the transfer lock (Transfer Lock) and get the authorization code. It is also called the EPP code or Auth code.
2. Click "Transfer it" next to the domain, enter the domain name and the EPP code in the window that opens and confirm.
3. Confirm the transfer if your current registrar sends an email to the domain owner.
The domain transfer window.
The transfer itself takes up to a few hours. For domains in international zones such as .com an ICANN rule applies: a domain cannot be transferred within 60 days after registration or after the previous transfer.
How long to wait until the domain works
In the LuxHost zone a new record applies instantly, but then it has to be picked up by backbone internet providers, which keep domain data in cache. This takes from 5 minutes to 24 hours, and in most cases 5 to 10 minutes. While the update spreads, some visitors already see the site from the new server and others still see the old one.
If a day has passed and nslookup still shows the old IP, check that the record is saved with the right address and write to support.
Summary: one A record with the server IP is enough for a site, and a domain from another registrar can be transferred to LuxHost with the term kept and a year on top.
FAQ
Do I need to change NS servers if the domain was bought at LuxHost?
No, unless you changed them yourself. The domain is registered on our NS servers, but they can be changed at registration or later. If you did that, the records in the LuxHost billing will not work while the domain points to other NS servers. Either set the LuxHost NS servers back in the domain settings, or add the records where your NS servers point.
Can one domain be connected to several servers?
Yes. The main domain can point to one server, and subdomains such as shop.example.com or api.example.com to other servers. Each one gets its own A record.
What happens to the registration term when I transfer a domain to LuxHost?
The whole remaining term is kept, and one more year of registration is added.
Need help?
If the site does not open after the setup, write to support and give the domain, we will check the records.
