How to Setup Custom Name Servers

Overview

Yes, you can setup custom nameservers with iFastNet hosting. Custom nameservers allow you to use your own domain name for nameserver addresses (like ns1.yourdomain.com) instead of the default iFastNet nameservers.

What You'll Need

To set up custom nameservers, you'll need the IP addresses of your assigned nameservers. These IP addresses are the same as the nameservers provided in your Account Information email from iFastNet.

Step 1: Find Your Nameserver IP Addresses

Method: Using the Ping Command

You can find the IP address of your nameservers by using the ping command on your computer.

For Windows:

1. Press Windows Key + R
2. Type cmd and press Enter to open Command Prompt

For Mac:

1. Press Cmd + Space to open Spotlight
2. Type Terminal and press Enter

For Linux:

1. Open your terminal application

Example: Finding Nameserver IPs

If your nameservers were ns10101.ifastnet.com and ns20101.ifastnet.com, you would run these commands:

ping ns10101.ifastnet.com

Example output:

PING ns10101.ifastnet.com (82.163.176.144) 56(84) bytes of data.

This shows that ns10101.ifastnet.com has an IP address of 82.163.176.144.

Repeat the same process for your second nameserver:

ping ns20101.ifastnet.com

Important: Your actual nameserver names and IP addresses will be different. Use the nameservers specified in your iFastNet Account Information email.

Step 2: Create A Records in cPanel

Once you know the IP addresses for both nameservers, you need to create A records for your custom nameservers.

Access Your cPanel

Option A: Through Client Portal

1. Go to https://ifastnet.com/portal/clientarea.php
2. Log in with your hosting credentials
3. Navigate to your hosting services
4. Click on the cPanel access link

Option B: Direct cPanel Access

1. Go to https://yourdomain.com/cpanel (replace "yourdomain.com" with your actual domain)
2. Log in with your cPanel username and password

Create the A Records

1. In cPanel, locate and click on "Zone Editor" in the Domains section
2. Find your domain and click "Manage"
3. Click "Add Record" and select "A Record"
4. Create the first A record:
   • Name: ns1 (this will create ns1.yourdomain.com)
   • Address/Value: Enter the IP address of your first nameserver
   • Click "Add Record"
5. Create the second A record:
   • Name: ns2 (this will create ns2.yourdomain.com)
   • Address/Value: Enter the IP address of your second nameserver
   • Click "Add Record"

Step 3: Register Nameservers with Your Domain Registrar

Next, you need to register your custom nameservers with your domain registrar (the company where you purchased your domain).

Access Your Domain Registrar's Control Panel

1. Log in to your domain registrar's website (GoDaddy, Namecheap, etc.)
2. Navigate to your domain management section
3. Look for options like "Nameserver Registration," "Custom Nameservers," or "Glue Records"

Register Your Nameservers

1. Add your first nameserver:
   • Nameserver: ns1.yourdomain.com
   • IP Address: Your first nameserver's IP address
2. Add your second nameserver:
   • Nameserver: ns2.yourdomain.com
   • IP Address: Your second nameserver's IP address
3. Save the changes

Note: Different registrars have different interfaces, but the process is similar. Look for sections related to "Custom DNS," "Private Nameservers," or "Nameserver Registration."

Step 4: Change Your Domain to Use Custom Nameservers

Finally, you need to update your domain to use your newly created custom nameservers.

Update Domain Nameservers

1. In your domain registrar's control panel, find the nameserver settings for your domain
2. Change from the current nameservers to your custom ones:
   • Primary Nameserver: ns1.yourdomain.com
   • Secondary Nameserver: ns2.yourdomain.com
3. Save the changes

Important Notes

Propagation Time

DNS changes can take 24-48 hours to fully propagate across the internet. During this time, some visitors might still see the old nameserver information.

Verification

You can verify your custom nameservers are working by using online DNS lookup tools or the nslookup command:

nslookup yourdomain.com

Backup Your Settings

Before making changes, note down your current nameserver settings in case you need to revert the changes.

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

• A records not created properly: Double-check that you've created A records for both ns1 and ns2
• Incorrect IP addresses: Verify you're using the correct IP addresses from the ping command
• Registrar settings: Some registrars require 24-48 hours to activate custom nameservers

Need Help?

If you encounter issues during this process:

1. Go to https://support.ifastnet.com/login.php
2. If this is your first time accessing support, you'll need to register for a support account
3. Once logged in, create a new support ticket describing your custom nameserver setup issue
4. Include your domain name and the steps you've already completed

Summary

Setting up custom nameservers involves three main steps: finding your nameserver IP addresses using the ping command, creating A records in cPanel's Zone Editor, registering the nameservers with your domain registrar, and finally updating your domain to use the custom nameservers. While the process requires changes in multiple locations, following these steps will give you professional-looking nameservers using your own domain name.