Having a solid understanding of Domain Name System (DNS) is crucial in web hosting and server management, and Plesk makes this task more manageable through its integrated DNS management features. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll delve into the intricacies of Plesk DNS, exploring its significance, functionality, and how it facilitates effective domain management.
By understanding the essentials of Plesk DNS, you optimize your ability to navigate the complexities of web hosting and provide a reliable online experience for your users. As a leading provider of Plesk server management services, we’ve made this comprehensive guide to assist you effortlessly in creating, managing, adding, or editing Plesk DNS. Explore the details provided in this blog for a thorough understanding of each step in the process. Before we dive into Plesk’s DNS creating, managing, and editing process, let’s grasp the basics of Plesk DNS.
Table of Contents
What is DNS?
The Domain Name System (DNS) functions as the internet’s phonebook, converting human-friendly domain names into machine-readable IP addresses. This translation is crucial for efficiently finding and connecting to various web services across the internet. In Plesk, DNS plays a vital role in managing these domain names and their corresponding IP addresses, ensuring smooth and accurate communication between servers and websites.
Plesk DNS Essentials
Plesk, a powerful web hosting control panel, streamlines server management tasks, including DNS configuration. Here’s a breakdown of key Plesk DNS features:
1. DNS Server Management
Plesk enables users to manage DNS servers efficiently. This includes configuring primary and secondary DNS servers, ensuring robust and reliable domain resolution.
2. Domain Creation and Delegation
With Plesk, creating and delegating domains becomes straightforward. Whether you’re a hosting provider or a business managing multiple domains, Plesk simplifies the process of setting up and assigning DNS records.
3. DNS Zones and Records
Plesk allows users to define DNS zones for domains, specifying authoritative name servers and associated records. This includes essential records like A (address), CNAME (canonical name), MX (mail exchange), and more.
4. Domain Aliases and Subdomains
Managing domain aliases, and subdomains is effortless with Plesk DNS. Whether you want to point additional domain names to your primary site or create specific sections like blog.yourdomain.com, Plesk provides intuitive controls.
5. Reverse DNS Configuration
Plesk supports Reverse DNS (rDNS) configuration, crucial for tasks like email deliverability. Proper rDNS setup ensures that an IP address corresponds to a specific domain, enhancing your server’s trustworthiness.
6. DNSSEC (DNS Security Extensions)
Plesk emphasizes security by supporting DNSSEC, an extension that adds an additional layer of validation to DNS responses. DNSSEC helps protect against various cyber threats, enhancing the integrity and authenticity of DNS data.
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Configuring DNS For A Domain With Plesk
DNS Name Resolving
DNS is structured as a hierarchy, known as the domain namespace, where domain names are organized into logical “domain zones.” Plesk plays a crucial role in managing DNS resolution for your resources, serving as a backup server, directly processing translation requests, or forwarding them to a remote server.
Plesk as a Master DNS Server
When you buy a domain, you can choose to let Plesk handle the DNS zone or allow the registrar to manage it. To view and manage records in a domain’s DNS zone, navigate to Websites & Domains > DNS Settings. Here, you can add, modify, or remove records, with caution, as certain changes may impact your domain’s functionality.
The SOA (Start of Authority) record in the DNS zone can also be modified under Websites & Domains > DNS Settings > SOA. Plesk allows flexibility in storing SOA serial numbers, adhering to the YYYYMMDDNN format recommended by RIPE.
Plesk as a Slave DNS Server
For advanced users, Plesk can act as a slave (secondary) DNS server, holding a copy of your zone. To configure Plesk as a slave DNS server, go to Websites & Domains > DNS Settings > Master/Slave and follow the provided steps.
Registrar’s DNS Settings in Plesk
If you choose not to use Plesk as a DNS server, you can manage DNS settings via your domain registrar. To turn off the Plesk DNS service for a site, go to Websites & Domains > DNS Settings > Disable. This option allows you to validate the zone configuration on external authoritative name servers.
Additional Domain Operations
Plesk offers various operations for domains, including setting passwords, locking/unlocking for transfer, altering contact information, changing DNS settings, and configuring automatic renewal. These actions can be performed under Account > Show Domain Info for the respective domain.
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Creating Plesk DNS Records
To initiate the process of creating Plesk DNS records, adhere to the following steps:
Login to Plesk
Begin by logging in to your Plesk control panel using your designated username and password. Access your Plesk account through your web browser using the URL: https://(your server’s IP address):8443. Alternatively, if A records are already propagated for the server, you can access Plesk by using the following URL
Navigate to Domains
After successful login, direct your attention to the left side of the screen. Under Hosting Services, find and click on the Domains option.
These steps lay the foundation for seamlessly creating DNS records within your Plesk environment.
Next, on the right side of the screen, find the list of hosted domains on your server. Identify and click on the specific domain for which you intend to modify Plesk DNS records.
After selecting your desired domain, you’ll see a list of control options. Click on the one labeled “DNS Settings,” as illustrated in the image below.
On the subsequent screen, you’ll find a range of tools and options for managing your Plesk DNS settings. These include the ability to turn off the DNS Service, add records, restore defaults, and more. If you want to add a new DNS record, simply click on “Add Record,” choose the record type, and provide the necessary information for the record you intend to create.
*Note:
If you’re uncertain about the type of record you need or are unclear about their differences, refer to the terminology section in our DNS Configuration Guide. Still unsure? Don’t hesitate to use one of the methods listed at the bottom of this post to contact our support team for assistance.
To modify an existing DNS record, navigate to the DNS Settings screen, and scroll down to view the list of current DNS records for the selected domain. Click on any of the records listed to begin making adjustments.
On the subsequent screen, you’ll be able to modify the Record type, Domain name, and IP address.
When creating a record, you’ll need to input specific details depending on the type of record you’re working with.
A. If you’re creating MX records:
- Choose MX as your Record Type.
- Keep the Mail Domain blank but set the Mail Exchange Server to match your mail server’s name.
- If your mail exchange server has a specific priority number, enter it. Otherwise, set the priority number to a very high value (0).
B. If you’re creating A records:
- Choose A as your Record Type.
- Enter the subdomain name you want to host for Domain Name.
- Set the IP Address to your desired server’s IP address.
C. If you’re creating CNAME records:
- Choose CNAME as your Record Type.
- Enter the subdomain name you want to host for Domain Name.
- Set the Canonical Name to your desired server’s name.
After making any necessary edits, click the OK button to save your changes.
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Managing Plesk DNS zones
To handle the Plesk DNS zone for a domain, follow these steps:
1. Log in to Plesk.
2. On the left sidebar, select “Websites & Domains.”
3. Click DNS Settings:
4. On the DNS tab, you’ll find various settings:
- To completely disable DNS, click on “Disable.”
- To switch between using the Plesk DNS server as a master or slave, click on “Master/Slave.”
- To revert to the default DNS settings, select “Reset to Default.”
Adding Plesk DNS records
You can incorporate various record types into the DNS zone for a domain, such as CNAME, MX, PTR, and more. The steps below illustrate how to add an A record to the DNS zone, allowing you to associate a subdomain with an IP address:
1. Log in to Plesk.
2. Select “Websites & Domains” from the left sidebar.
3. Click DNS Settings:
4. On the DNS tab, you’ll find various settings:
- To completely disable DNS, click on “Disable.”
- To switch between using the Plesk DNS server as a master or slave, click on “Master/Slave.”
- To revert to the default DNS settings, select “Reset to Default.”
Adding Plesk DNS records
You can incorporate various record types into the DNS zone for a domain, such as CNAME, MX, PTR, and more. The steps below illustrate how to add an A record to the DNS zone, allowing you to associate a subdomain with an IP address:
1. Log in to Plesk.
2. Select “Websites & Domains” from the left sidebar.
3. Click DNS Settings:
4. Click on “Add Record.”
5. From the Record type list, choose the desired record type (e.g., A).
6. Enter the subdomain name in the Domain name text box.
7. Provide the server’s IP address in the IP address text box.
8. Click “OK.” Plesk generates the DNS record without activating it.
9. Click “Update” to activate the new record.
Deleting Plesk DNS records
To remove a DNS record for a domain in Plesk, follow these steps:
1. Log in to Plesk.
2. Select “Websites & Domains” from the left sidebar
3. Click DNS Settings:
4. Select the checkbox next to the record you want to delete from the list of records.
5. Click on “Remove.”
6. Confirm the deletion by clicking “Yes.” Plesk will then remove the DNS record.
Steps to Edit Plesk DNS Records
Login to Plesk:
- Open your web browser and enter the Plesk login URL.
- Log in with your Plesk username and password.
Access Websites & Domains:
- In the left sidebar, click on “Websites & Domains.”
Navigate to DNS Settings:
- Locate the domain for which you want to edit DNS records.
- Click on the “DNS Settings” option. If you can’t find it, check for a “Hosting & DNS” tab and then look for the “DNS Settings” button.
Select Record to Edit:
- On the DNS Settings screen, find the list of current DNS records for the selected domain.
- Click on the record you want to edit.
Make Changes:
- Depending on the type of record, you will see options to edit fields such as Record type, Domain name, IP address, etc.
- Modify the necessary information according to your requirements.
Save Changes:
- After making the desired edits, click the “OK” or “Save” button to save the changes.
Update DNS Records:
- In some cases, you might need to click an “Update” button to apply the changes to the DNS records immediately.
Conclusion
Understanding how to create, manage, add, and edit Plesk DNS settings is crucial for effective web hosting and server management. Plesk’s user-friendly interface makes it easy to configure DNS zones, make record changes, add domain aliases, handle subdomains, and optimize Reverse DNS settings. This guide provides you with the knowledge to confidently navigate Plesk’s DNS features, ensuring a smooth and secure online presence for your domains.
Whether you need to update IP addresses, create new records, or modify existing ones, Plesk provides a user-friendly interface for these tasks. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can efficiently create, manage, add, and edit Plesk DNS records and ensure that your domain functions as intended.
