| What is DNS? | | | | cause strange results from time to time. This |
| DNS internal workings are very complex. However, as | | | | happens when there are nameservers listed in the |
| far as the end user is concerned, it is actually fairly | | | | DNS zone on the server, which are not listed on the |
| simple. | | | | domain. This is most likely to happen if the site has |
| DNS is like a telephone book. When you type a URL | | | | been moved from another server. The solution is |
| (domain name) into your browser, or click a link, your | | | | either: |
| web browser searches for the domain name from a | | | | - If the nameservers are not needed, remove the |
| table on a DNS server, which finds it and hands your | | | | extra nameservers from the DNS zone on the |
| network an "IP address" which is much like a | | | | server. |
| telephone number. An IP address looks something like | | | | - If the nameservers belong, you will need to add |
| 111.22.333.44. | | | | them to your domain registration. |
| The DNS nameservers and IP addresses must match | | | | Lame nameservers or Missing nameservers |
| on the server and at the domain registry for optimal | | | | This is the essentially the opposite of the Missing |
| website performance. | | | | (Stealth) nameservers, above. |
| Common DNS Problems | | | | - You may have forgotten to add a nameserver |
| If you run a "DNS Report" (you can find an excellent | | | | when you created/ updated your domain registration. |
| DNS report online at dnsstuff.com) Most of the | | | | Be sure that you have all of the required |
| problems you may find will not cause your website | | | | nameservers properly added to your domain |
| not to be found properly. The essential thing to keep | | | | registration. |
| in mind is that the nameserver records and IP | | | | - Make sure that the nameservers answer |
| addresses in the domain name registration match the | | | | authoritatively on the server for your domain. If the |
| DNS zone on the server. This is not usually a problem | | | | nameservers and IP addresses on the server match |
| for brand-new web sites, but if you move your | | | | at the registry and you still have a problem, you may |
| website from one server to another, it can be a | | | | need to ask your server administrator to help. |
| problem. | | | | Missing "A" records |
| Glue at parent nameservers, Mismatched glue error | | | | Make sure that each "NS" record on the server also |
| This means that your registrar probably has your | | | | has a corresponding "A" record. This is usually done |
| name servers listed incorrectly. This is most likely to | | | | on the server. |
| occur if you have custom nameservers. Be sure the | | | | Nameserver Propagation |
| IP addresses at the domain registry match the IP | | | | This is not an actual error. It takes a certain amount |
| address on the server. If you have shared hosting | | | | of time for nameserver changes at the registry to |
| and do not have access to DNS on your server, | | | | be noticed by DNS servers worldwide. Propagation |
| please ask your server administrator for the correct | | | | will usually start within about 2 hours or even less, |
| designations. This can also be caused if your domain's | | | | and should be complete within 48 hours. If your site |
| TLD (".com" or ".net" or ".org" for instance) does not | | | | continues to behave erratically after 48 hours, you |
| match the TLD of the nameserver. This will not | | | | may want to run a DNS Report. |
| cause your DNS to fail. But it may cause a tiny bit of | | | | Other Errors |
| slowness. It is usually nothing to worry about. | | | | Most other errors you may find will not affect your |
| Missing (stealth) nameservers and Stealth NS record | | | | web site's functionality. If you are experiencing |
| leakage | | | | problems, you may have to do more research. |
| Your site will most likely run in this condition, but may | | | | |