What Is a PTR Record and How Do You Add One?

What is a PTR record?

DNS is like a phone book for the internet. Normal DNS turns a name into a number. A PTR record does the opposite. It turns an IP address into a name. An IP address is the number that identifies a device on the internet. This is also called reverse DNS, or rDNS.

For example, the IP address 203.0.113.25 may point back to mail.example.com.

Why does it matter?

• Mail servers check it. If your server sends email and has no PTR record, many inboxes mark your mail as spam.
• It helps in logs and security checks, so the name shows instead of only a number.

Who sets it?

This is the part that surprises people. You cannot add a PTR record in your normal domain DNS. The owner of the IP address controls the reverse zone. For a Hostvento server, that is usually Hostvento or its network provider. So you ask them to set it.

Before you ask

1. Pick the name you want, such as mail.example.com.
2. Add an A record for that name in your domain DNS. It must point to the server IP address. An A record links a name to an IP address.
3. Wait a little for DNS to update.

The A record and the PTR record should match. This is called forward-confirmed reverse DNS.

Ask for the PTR record

1. Log in to the client area.
2. Open the Support menu.
3. Choose to open a ticket.
4. Write the IP address and the name you want, for example 203.0.113.25 and mail.example.com.
5. Send the ticket and wait for the reply.

Some control panels let you set it yourself. Hostvento support can tell you if yours does.

Check it

dig -x 203.0.113.25 +short

This asks DNS which name belongs to that IP. It should print your chosen name. Use your own IP address.

Quick recap

• A PTR record maps an IP address back to a name.
• Mail servers use it to judge spam.
• The IP owner sets it, so ask Hostvento support.
• Add a matching A record first.
• Test with dig -x.