Whonami-Your domain name system (DNS)

DNS, which stands for domain name system, controls your domain name’s website and email settings. When visitors go to your domain name, its DNS settings control which company’s server it reaches out to.

What I’m seeing is more complicated than that…

DNS can be confusing. It’s made up of many different elements which control different aspects of your domain name. Here’s a quick explanation of each one:

DNS Element Description
Nameserver Nameservers “point” your domain name to the company that controls its DNS settings. Usually, this will be the company where you registered the domain name.

However, if your website is hosted by another company, sometimes you’ll need to use their nameservers.

Zone File Zone Files are simply the files that store all of your domain’s DNS settings. Your domain name’s Zone File is stored on the company’s nameserver.
A Record A Records point your domain name to an individual server using an IP address. An example IP address is 123.4.67.5.

You can also use A Records to point subdomains (for examplesubdomain.coolexample.com) to a server’s IP address.

Every domain name has a primary A Record called “@,” which controls what your domain name does when some visits it directly.

CNAME CNAMEs point your subdomains to another server using a server name. Unlike A Records, CNAMEs cannot use IP addresses.

Most domain names have many CNAMEs.

MX Records MX Records point your domain name’s email to its email provider.

If your domain name uses our nameservers, you can view or change your domain name’s DNS through us.

NEXT STEP: Manage DNS for Your Domain Names

Whonami-You can manage DNS for your domain names

You can change which service your domain name uses for its website and email by managing its DNS (Domain Name System) settings. You don’t need to know many of the details to use this article, but you can find more information in What is DNS?

Using our DNS Manager, you can change your domain name’s DNS settings (stored in something called a zone file). You can use our DNS Manager if:

  • Your domain name is registered through us and uses our nameservers (more info)
  • Your domain name is registered somewhere else and you set up Off-Site DNS (more info)

If your domain name doesn’t fall into either of these categories, you can contact the company that controls your domain’s nameservers to control its DNS/zone file settings.

Premium DNS Users: Instead of these instructions, see Managing Premium DNS for Your Domain Names.

Accessing the DNS Zone File

How you access your domain’s DNS Zone File depends on a few things:

Situation Use these instructions
Registered with WHONAMI-Cheap Domain Registration Service and using our nameservers See the directions in the 2nd table below for each corresponding Zone File you would like to add or edit
Hosted by but not registered with WHONAMI-Cheap Domain Registration Service Manage DNS for your hosting account
Using Off-Site DNS Managing Domain Names with Off-site DNS
Premium DNS Managing Premium DNS for Your Domain Names

Working with individual zone file records

Click on the corresponding link for the type of Zone File you would like to add or edit:

Type of Record Add, Edit or Delete
A Record Add; Edit; Delete
CNAME Record Add; Edit; Delete
MX Record Add; Edit; Delete
TXT Record Add; Edit; Delete
SPF Record Add; Edit; Delete
SRV Record Add; Edit; Delete
AAAA Record Add; Edit; Delete
NS Record Add; Edit; Delete

Any DNS changes you make can take up to 48 hours to reflect on the Internet.

Whonami-You should purchase private registration for your domain

Private Registration is available for many domain name extensions. However, some registries do not allow it. If the registry does not allow privacy, the Privacy tab is not available in the domain name’s Upgrade section of the Domain Manager.

  1. Log in to your Account Manager.
  2. Next to Domains, click Manage.

Which steps you’ll use next will depend on the number of domains in your account:

6 Domains or Fewer

  1. Select the domain name you want to use, click Text Icon (Settings) and select Domain Settings.
  2. Under Contact Information, click Make Private.
  3. Click Add, and then do one of the following:
    • If you already have a DBP account that you want to use, select it from the list.
    • Create New — Select this option if you do not have an existing DBP account. DBP creates a new account for you, and then emails you the user name, password, and a link to the DBP website. Please retain this information for future reference!
    • Other Existing DBP Account — If you have an existing DBP account that you want to use but it does not display in the list, select this option, and then enter your login information in the User Name and Password fields.
  4. Click Checkout and complete the checkout process.

More than 6 Domains (i.e. 7 or More)

  1. Select the domain name you want to add privacy to.
  2. Click Upgrade.
  3. From the Registration tab, select Private Registration.
  4. Click Add, and then do one of the following:
    • If you already have a DBP account that you want to use, select it from the list.
    • Create New — Select this option if you do not have an existing DBP account. DBP creates a new account for you, and then emails you the user name, password, and a link to the DBP website. Please retain this information for future reference!
    • Other Existing DBP Account — If you have an existing DBP account that you want to use but it does not display in the list, select this option, and then enter your login information in the User Name and Password fields.
  5. Click Checkout, and complete the checkout process.

It can take 24 to 48 hours for the DBP information to display in the Whois database.

For more information about using your DBP account, see Domains By Proxy FAQ

Whonami-Transfer Domain Name from Another Registrar

You can use the instructions below to transfer a domain name from your current registrar to us. If you don’t see information for your registrar, you should contact them to request transfer away instructions or you can visit Preparing to Transfer Domain Names to WHONAMI-Cheap Domain Registration Service for general transfer information.

Transferring Away from Network Solutions

Transferring Away from Enom

Transfer away from Register.com

Transferring Away From Melbourne IT

Transferring Away from Tucows

Transferring Away from 1&1, Schlund + Partner, or GMX.net

For more information about the transfer process, ICANN regulations that prohibit transfers, or how to check the progress of your transfer, see Transfer domain to WHONAMI-Cheap Domain Registration Service.

Whonami-How do you recover your expired domain names?

You can attempt to recover expired top-level domain names (TLDs) during the renewal grace and registry redemption periods. In addition to the cost of renewal, you might be required to pay a fee for the domain name recovery. For more information, see Can I renew my domain name after it expires?

To Recover Expired Domain Names

  1. Log in to your Account Manager.
  2. Next to Domains, click Manage.
  3. From the Domains menu, select Expired Domains.
  4. Select the domain names you want to recover.
  5. Click Recover.
  6. Select the renewal length for the domain names, and then click Next.

    Renewal lengths for multiple domain names can vary depending on maximum renewal lengths allowed by each domain name registry.

  7. (Optional) Select the registration and website options you want to apply to your domain name renewals.
  8. Complete the checkout process.

Whonami-Your protected domain should be renewed before expiring

If your domain name with Protected Registration does not renew, we place it in an inactive, protected status for up to 12 months. This protected status keeps the domain name in your account. It is not active and its related services, such as hosting and email, do not function correctly until you renew the domain name.

To rescue the domain name from this inactive status, you must renew both the domain name and Protected Registration service for their standard renewal prices.

Whonami-When do you use domain name transfer?

Use a domain name transfer in the following situations:

  • You sold your domain name to another person who uses a different registrar.
  • You switched registrars and want to transfer your domain names to the account with them.

Transferring a domain name takes up to seven days.

To transfer a domain name to us from another registrar, start the process in your account here. For more information, see Transfer domain to WHONAMI-Cheap Domain Registration Service.

If you want to transfer a domain name from us to another registrar, the process starts at the new registrar. See Transferring Domain Names to Another Registrar for more information.

Whonami-When do you use an account change for a domain name?

Use an account change in the following situations:

  • You want to move your domain name to another account with your current registrar. For example, you sold your domain name to someone who has an account with your current registrar.
  • You need to change the domain name contact’s email address and don’t have access to the account where the domain resides. For example, the account containing the domain name belongs to a former employee.

If you have access to the account — Initiate a domain name account change through the Domain Manager. For more information, see Moving a Domain Name Out of Your Account.

If you do not have access to the account — Complete the Request for Change of Account/Email Update Preparation Form. For more information, see Submitting a Change of Account/Email Update Form.

Whonami- Registering domain names will support your business a lot

Registering domain names build your credibility on the Internet. Use domain names to support your business and assist in creating a dynamic online presence. Your domain name establishes your online identity and increases branding, marketing and communication opportunities. Register multiple domain names to:

-Keep your competition from registering a domain name that draws customers away from you.
-Promote the products and services you offer.
-Drive more traffic to your website.
-Enjoy more opportunities to market to — and be listed on — search engines.
-Create distinct advertising strategies to reach different target markets.
-Provide customers more ways to find you on the Internet.
-Capture common misspellings of your domain name, instead of sending visitors to an error page.
-Protect your brand and online identity from unsavory parties.

Whonami-Hosted with WHONAMI-Cheap Domain Registration Service but IP Addresses for Domains Registered Elsewhere

If your domain is registered somewhere else, but you’re hosting your website with us, you can connect your domain name to your website by pointing your domain name to your website’s IP address.

This will not change your domain name’s email service to WHONAMI-Cheap Domain Registration Service. If you plan on using WHONAMI-Cheap Domain Registration Service for your email, we recommend using your website’s nameservers instead of its IP address.

How you find your website’s IP address depends on which product you’re using for your website:

Service Where to find your nameservers…
Website Builder v7 Find your IP address
Website Builder v6 Viewing Your Website Builder Account’s IP Address
cPanel shared hosting What is my website’s IP address?
Plesk shared hosting What is my website’s IP address?
Web & Classic Hosting What is my website’s IP address?
Managed WordPress Find your website’s IP address (DNS)
Quick Content Quick Content does not support using IP addresses; instead use its nameservers

Changing the IP address for .COM and .NET domains can take 4-8 hours to display on the internet. All other types of domains can take up to 48 hours.