What does it take to get on the internet with your business, hobby or interest? I’ve been helping people do exactly this since the internet went public.
Step 2: You need a DNS server.
What is a DNS server, you may ask? DNS stands for Domain Name System. A DNS server is how the rest of the internet finds you. It works a lot like a phone book: you know a person or business name, and you use the phone book to look up their phone number.
Your registrar ties your domain name to the DNS server you choose. In most cases the registrar runs the DNS server and you never have to think about it, but you (or your trusted IT professional) should always be able to edit the records it holds.
There are several record types. An “A” record holds the address of your website. An “MX” (mail exchanger) record points to where your email should be delivered. “TXT” records do things like prove you own your domain to an outside service, or list which servers are allowed to send mail for your domain. That matters a lot if you use an outside mail system like Microsoft 365.
A couple of tips: keep a copy of your DNS records somewhere safe, so you can rebuild them quickly if you ever move. And before you change anything, lower the record’s TTL (time to live) a day ahead so the change takes effect quickly instead of hours later.
Your internet “phone number” is called an IP (Internet Protocol) address. Your hosting company assigns an IP address to your web server, and that address must be entered in your DNS server so people can find your website. Your MX record points to the server that is set up to receive email for your domain.
I have run many mail servers over the years, and there are real advantages to letting a large company such as Microsoft 365 handle your mail. I can help you sort out what is best for your situation.
Click the links below to read the other parts of this series.
Fill out the form below and I will contact you.
Leave a Reply