What is the DNS “A” record and how do I add an “A” record to DNS?

Today we are discussing DNS A records. But before we get started: What is a DNS record? DNS records are a set of instructions on DNS servers that provide information about a domain’s IP address and how to manage DNS Lookup requests. There are many DNS record typesincluding:

Each type of DNS record has a specific purpose.

In this article, we’ll focus on one fundamental type—the DNS A record. Read on to learn what a DNS A record is and how to add, edit, and delete an A record on your DNS server.

What is a DNS “A” record?

A DNS A record is the most basic type of DNS record. The A stands for “Address,” and it is used to point a domain name to an IP address or host. You can only use an A record when you want to point to an IPv4 address. A AAAA registration is needed if you want to direct your domain to an IPv6 address.

The DNS A record points to a domain name like google.com to the IP address of its DNS hosting server, in this case, “74.125.224.147”. While most sites have only one A DNS recordit is possible to have multiple records.

Another essential aspect of a DNS A record is that you can use it (often with a CNAME record) to create a subdomain that also points to the same IP address, for example, blog.example.com.

When are “A” records used?

The most common use of a DNS A record is during IP address lookup, which retrieves information related to an IP address. This data is used to match a domain name to an IPv4 address, which allows a user’s device to connect and load a website.

A A record in the DNS makes it easy for humans to visit websites without remembering their real IP addresses. So you can easily type easydmarc.com in your web browser, and it automatically takes you to the site.

Create an “A” record

Once you have a website and a domain name, you need to create a DNS n A record to link them together. Creating an A record is quite simple. Your domain provider like GoDaddy, Bluehost, HostGator, etc. usually provides specific instructions on how to add DNS A record for your website.

Here is an example of how the process generally works:

• First, you need to login to your domain controller panel.
• Tap the “DNS Settings”, often found in the Advanced Settings section.
• Go to “DNS Records”.
• Look for the “Create a new record” option and click on “A record” to indicate the record you want to create.
• You will usually need to enter the following information:

1. Host name – It is the name of DNS A record. You can enter @, leave it blank, or enter a subdomain.
2. IP adress – This is where you want the recording to point. Remember that it must be an IPv4 address.
3. TTL- This is optional. If you leave it blank, it uses the default time of 36,000 seconds.
4. Press the “Create Record” button to save your new DNS A record.

Although the exact steps will vary depending on your domain provider, creating an A record is similar for everyone.

Modify an existing “A” record

In most cases, you don’t need to do much with your DNS A record. Once your website is active, the settings remain the same. But there are certain situations where you may need to edit or modify your A record, such as:

• When you change web server
• If you change DNS provider or plan
• When you transfer your website to a private server

Editing your existing A record requires a few steps, usually as follows:

• Login to your DNS controller panel.
• Select theDomain settings page.
• Picking out “Manage DNS” to access your DNS zone file.
• Select “Edit” next to the A record you want to edit.
• Change the hostname, IP address or TTL (“Time to Live”) according to your changes:
• Click on “to safeguard” to finalize your changes.

While most A record changes are effective within an hour, updating on all DNS servers can take longer than 48 hours.

Changing your DNS A record requires similar steps for all DNS providers.

Delete an “A” record

If a DNS A record is no longer needed, it should be deleted. Deleting an A record will permanently remove it from your DNS zone files. The steps below describe the typical process:

• Login to your DNS controller panel.
• Go to your Domain settings page.
• Picking out “Manage DNS” to access your DNS zone file.
• Select “Wipe off” next to the A record you want to delete. You can usually delete multiple A records at once.
• Confirm the process by selecting “Remove from” or “Confirm”, etc.
  

Summary

A DNS A record is one of the essential DNS records that link your domain name to its IP address. It is vital that your website works properly.

We recommend that you follow the steps highlighted in this article to create, edit, and delete unwanted A records from your DNS server. This avoids DNS spoofing and keeps your website running.

If you want to know how to check all dns records of a domainyou can use our Finding DNS Records tool. Also check out our other blogs for more detailed information on the different types of DNS records. – This is the same process for all DNS providers.

The post office What is the DNS “A” record and how do I add an “A” record to DNS? appeared first on EasyDMARC.

*** This is a syndicated blog from the Security Bloggers Network of EasyDMARC written by Knarik Petrosyan. Read the original post at: https://easydmarc.com/blog/what-is-dns-a-record-and-how-to-add-an-a-record-to-dns/