Fix wrong nameserver IP addresses in WHM

What are nameservers and IPs?

A nameserver is a computer that answers the question "where does this website live?". It is like a phone book for the internet. An IP address is a number that works as the home address of a computer. Each nameserver such as ns1.example.com must point to the right IP number. If WHM shows a wrong IP, visitors may not reach your sites, or email may fail.

This guide needs WHM access and works on a VPS or dedicated server.

Why does this happen?

• The server moved to a new IP address.
• The nameserver records were never updated.
• The "glue records" at the domain registrar still hold the old IP. Glue records are the IP numbers your registrar stores for your nameservers.
• The server is behind NAT. NAT is a router trick where the public IP differs from the one inside the server.

Steps to fix inside WHM

1. Log in to WHM.
2. Search for Basic WebHost Manager Setup and open it.
3. Check the nameserver names under Nameservers.
4. Click Assign IPv4 Address next to each nameserver, if shown. Choose the correct IP.
5. Click Save Changes.
6. Search for Edit DNS Zone and open the zone of your nameserver domain.
7. Find the A records for ns1 and ns2. An A record links a name to an IP.
8. Correct the IPs and save.
9. Open Nameserver IPs in WHM if it exists and update the numbers there. Some versions list it under Networking Setup.

Steps at the registrar

1. Log in to where you registered the domain. For Hostvento domains, use the Domains menu at https://secure.hostvento.com/clientarea.php.
2. Find Register Nameservers or Child Nameservers.
3. Update each nameserver to the correct IP.
4. Save and wait. Changes can take several hours to spread.

Check your work

dig ns1.example.com +short

This prints the IP that the name points to. Replace the name with yours. It should match your server's public IP.

Quick recap

• Nameserver IPs must match your server's real IPs.
• Fix them in WHM setup and the DNS zone.
• Update glue records at the registrar.
• Use dig to check.
• Allow time for the change to spread.