[RESOLVED] A Records - My first post!

[SeriousSites]

This is my first post, so hello everyone. :)

I have a client who has a .co.uk domain registered with PlusNet.

I am providing them with a new website and hosting for it. They do not want to transfer the domain name to me as they want to manage their own email - fair enough, clients don't always want to transfer.

Normally I would just ask them to update the domain nameservers but unfortunately PlusNet does not allow this - first time I have come across this limitation.

They have told me to modify the DNS to add an 'A Record' to point to my webservers IP address. So I added the following but it's not working:

Left field: [client domain].co.uk
Record Type: A
Priority: [left this blank?]
Right field: [Webserver IP Address]

But guess what - it's not working!

This is new to me so any help greatly appreciated.

[thewebhostingdi]

Once you change the A record it may take 24-48 hours to propagate. You can check the A record of the domain from the intodns.com. If it resolves to the IP address which you have entered the it should work.

[SeriousSites]

Once you change the A record it may take 24-48 hours to propagate. You can check the A record of the domain from the intodns.com. If it resolves to the IP address which you have entered the it should work.

I made the change a few days ago with still no result - the old host is still showing.

Have I added the record correctly? as I have seen someone say that the left field should contain the word 'home' and not the domain name.

This is a real pain as the clients website is ready to go online.

Thanks thewebhostingdi

[SeriousSites]

I am using shared hosting... so just the ip address isn't going to work i'm guessing!

Please help :eek:

[svidgen]

May I ask what the full domain name and IP are supposed to be?

[SeriousSites]

Yes of course:

The domain is: www.electechsolutions.co.uk
Currently registered and hosted with PlusNet.

The new host (123Connect) IP is 84.18.198.211 - it is a shared host.

I just want to modify the DNS to point to this new host - normally I would just update nameservers to point to ns3.lightning1.net/ns34.lightning1.net - but PlusNet do not allow the modification of nameservers!

Can I do this through creating/modifying (A/CNAME/etc) records?

[svidgen]

When you query the domain's registered nameservers you see the following:
www.electechsolutions.co.uk. 14189 IN CNAME homepages.plus.net.
homepages.plus.net. 23034 IN A 212.159.8.91
homepages.plus.net. 23034 IN A 212.159.9.91


So, those records don't seem to have been updated at all. If you attempted to make these changes locally, that won't work. They need to be made on PlutNet's nameservers. So, if your client is insisting on control over the domain, kindly remind them that they need to add appropriate the A records.

And, I can't imagine that a shared host will be totally incapable of working with external nameservers--but you never know. So, it would be wise to open a support ticket with them and verify that it will work correctly. You'll also want to ask if there are any special steps that need to be taken in this situation.

That help?

[SeriousSites]

Thanks Jon for your continuing help.

I have access to my clients PlusNet control panel and am trying to make the changes on his behalf. I am not making any changes on the hosting provider.

This is what I have added as additional DNS records for the Domain on PlusNets system:

www a 84.18.198.211
www cname www.electechsolutions.co.uk.

Are these right? should it work?

thanks again and in hope...

[svidgen]

Something looks off there. I'm sure it depends a little on their DNS management interface too -- is the base domain implied in the interface?

... In either case, you can use two A records, if you wish:
electechsolutions.co.uk A 84.18.198.211
www.electechsolutions.co.uk A 84.18.198.211


or you can use a CNAME, sort of like you posted:
electechsolutions.co.uk A 84.18.198.211
www.electechsolutions.co.uk CNAME 84.18.198.211

But, I think you'll save your clients (web browsers) a DNS lookup be making them both A records. And, as I understand it, there's no significant advantage of using a CNAME record in this case.

[SeriousSites]

Thanks Jon.

I have added the two A records as you suggested.

Now I will just have to leave it alone and let the net do it's thing and hopefully all will turn out good. :)

[fingers crossed]

[SeriousSites]

Hi Jon / Everyone,

Well it's been a while and it stil does not seem to be working even though the DNS shows the Records when I view the domain on PlusNets control panel.

I'm getting very confused and frustrated.... [breath...]

[svidgen]

These changes you've made through their control panel have not been committed to their DNS:
Mac-10:~ jonathan$ host electechsolutions.co.uk ns1.plusnet.co.uk
Using domain server:
Name: ns1.plusnet.co.uk
Address: 195.166.128.17#53
Aliases:

electechsolutions.co.uk mail is handled by 10 mx-ironport.core.plus.net.
electechsolutions.co.uk mail is handled by 20 mx-ironport.last.plus.net.
Mac-10:~ jonathan$ host www.electechsolutions.co.uk ns1.plusnet.co.uk
Using domain server:
Name: ns1.plusnet.co.uk
Address: 195.166.128.17#53
Aliases:

www.electechsolutions.co.uk is an alias for homepages.plus.net.
homepages.plus.net has address 212.159.9.91
homepages.plus.net has address 212.159.8.91


You need to contact them and find out what steps you (or they) need to take to commit the changes.

[SeriousSites]

Thanks Jon, I will contact them as something seems to a miss their end.

[SeriousSites]

All sorted. Thanks to everyone esp. Jon :)