Configuring domain settings
The following articles show you how to set up your domain. Learn how to set up DNS for your account, transfer a domain, configure custom name servers, and much more.
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Introduction to domains
Learn the basics of domain names, DNS, and more. If you are new to web hosting, we recommend you start here.
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Transferring a domain to A2 Hosting
If you purchased a domain name with another registrar, you can transfer the domain's billing and administration to A2 Hosting. This article includes a checklist of items to verify beforehand to help ensure a smooth transfer, as well as information about how to initiate transfers and troubleshoot any problems that may arise during the process.
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Setting the name servers for a domain
If you already own a domain that you purchased from a different registrar or hosting company, you can change the domain's name server settings to point to A2 Hosting. This article covers when you need to set your domain's name servers, and how to set them using the Customer Portal.
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Accessing your web site before DNS propagation is complete
When you update your domain's name server settings, you must wait until DNS propagation is complete to start using your domain name. In the meantime, however, there are other ways you can view your web site. This article covers how to use shared URLs and the hosts file to access your web site during DNS propagation.
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Configuring custom name servers
Reseller, VPS, and Dedicated Server accounts can use custom name servers. This article explains what custom name servers are, how to add A records for custom name servers, and how to register and activate custom name servers.
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Domain management for unmanaged products
This article describes how to set up your domain on an unmanaged product (Cloud VPS, Unmanaged VPS, or Unmanaged Dedicated Servers) for domains registered with A2 Hosting or a third-party provider.
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Configuring reverse DNS
Reverse DNS (also known as rDNS) uses PTR records to associate IP addresses with domain names. This is the opposite of regular DNS, which uses A records to associate domain names with IP addresses. Learn about the uses of reverse DNS and how to test and configure it for your account here.
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Setting the name servers for a domain at OpenSRS
This article shows you how to update the name servers for a domain registered at OpenSRS.
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Setting the name servers for a domain at GoDaddy
This article shows you how to update the name servers for a domain registered at GoDaddy.
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Changing your account’s primary domain name
You can change the primary domain name associated with your A2 Hosting account. Learn more here.
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Using shared URLs to access your site
You can access your website using a shared URL (also sometimes called a "temporary URL"). This feature is useful if your domain name settings have not been configured yet, or for testing purposes. In this article, learn how to determine the shared URL for shared hosting, reseller hosting, managed VPS, and managed Dedicated Server accounts.
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Adding an SRV record to a domain
Learn how to add an SRV record to your domain's DNS records. SRV records are DNS entries that specify how a domain handles particular services. This article covers how to add SRV records in cPanel and WebHost Manager.
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Anycast DNS
By default, shared and reseller hosting accounts use Anycast for DNS routing. Learn more about Anycast, and how to optionally set regional name servers for your domain, in this article.
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Domain types explained
Do you want to know what all of those domain types are in your control panel? This article explains subdomains, addon domains, and parked domains (or aliases).
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Wildcard Subdomains
This article explains what a wildcard subdomain is, why you would need a wildcard subdomain, and how to set up a wildcard subdomain.
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Finding your hosting IP address
This article shows how to find the IP address for your cPanel or Plesk hosting account.
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Configuring a .dk Hosted Custom Name Server
Denmark has special requirements for .dk domains. Learn why and how to configure a .dk hosted custom name server in this article.
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Domain Auto Renew Status
This article covers the importance of leaving a domain in auto renew status in the A2 Hosting Customer Portal, how to check if your domain has AutoRenewOnly status, what domain TLDs are affected by AutoRenewOnly status, and how to enable Auto Renew status for a domain.
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Verifying site ownership with Google
Learn how to verify your site's ownership with Google. This article covers the various methods you can use for site verification: HTML file upload, HTML tag, DNS TXT and CNAME records, and Google Analytics.