What is a DNS zone?
DNS is like a phone book for the internet. It turns a website name into a number that computers understand. A DNS zone is the page of that phone book that belongs to your domain. It holds small entries called records. Each record says where something goes, such as your website or your email.
You edit the zone where your domain's nameservers point. Nameservers are the computers that hold the zone. If your domain uses STRATO nameservers, you edit the zone at STRATO.
Warning: A wrong record can take your website or email offline. Write down the old values before you change anything.
Before you start
- Have your STRATO customer login ready.
- Find the values you need to add. For Hostvento hosting, the server IP address is in your welcome email. If you cannot find it, ask Hostvento support.
Steps
- Log in to the STRATO customer service area.
- Open the Domains section.
- Click Manage domain next to the domain you want to edit.
- Look for DNS settings or Edit DNS settings. It may sit under a heading such as Domain settings.
- Read the existing records and note their values.
- Choose the record type you need. Fill in the host name and the value. An A record links a name to an IP address. A CNAME record links one name to another name. An MX record tells the world where email goes.
- Click the button to apply or save.
- To change a record, edit its fields and save.
- To delete a record, use its delete option. Only delete what you are sure about.
STRATO may group some settings, such as "A and AAAA records" or "mail" settings, into their own pages. Use the page that matches the record type you want.
The pages may show in German. You can often switch the language in your account.
After the change
DNS changes do not show at once. They can take from a few minutes to some hours to spread. This waiting time is called propagation. Clear your browser cache and test again later.
Need help with the Hostvento side? Open a support ticket.
Quick recap
- A DNS zone holds the records of your domain.
- Edit it at the company whose nameservers your domain uses.
- In STRATO, open Domains, then manage your domain and find DNS settings.
- Note old values before you edit.
- Allow time for changes to spread.