DNS Management in cPanel: The Reference Guide
Zone Editor in cPanel controls all DNS records. A, CNAME, MX, TXT — we explain each record and how to add and edit it.
DNS Management in cPanel: Everything You Need to Know
DNS is the phone book of the internet. A single mistake in DNS settings makes your website or email stop working. This guide explains every type of DNS record and how to edit it correctly.
Accessing the DNS Editor in cPanel
cPanel, then Domains, then Zone Editor (or Advanced Zone Editor in older versions).
Here you will find all DNS records for your domains. Editing an incorrect record here may stop the website or email, so understand each record before editing it.
Types of DNS Records
A Record — The Primary Address
Links a domain name to an IP address.
Domain: yoursite.sa
Type: A
Value: 185.220.101.25
TTL: 3600 (one hour)
Use: This is the main record. Visiting yoursite.sa goes to the IP in this record.
When to edit: When moving the site to a new server or changing the server IP.
CNAME Record — The Alias
Links a subdomain to another domain (not an IP).
Domain: www.yoursite.sa
Type: CNAME
Value: yoursite.sa
Important note: CNAME cannot be used on the root domain (yoursite.sa) — only on subdomains. The root needs an A Record.
MX Record — Email
Specifies the server responsible for receiving email.
Domain: yoursite.sa
Type: MX
Priority: 10
Value: mail.yoursite.sa
Priority: Lower number = higher priority. Two mail servers: first at 10, second at 20 = first receives first, second is the backup.
With Google Workspace:
Priority 1: aspmx.l.google.com
Priority 5: alt1.aspmx.l.google.com
Priority 5: alt2.aspmx.l.google.com
Priority 10: alt3.aspmx.l.google.com
Priority 10: alt4.aspmx.l.google.com
TXT Record — Verification and Security
Stores free text. Used for multiple purposes:
SPF — Preventing Email Spoofing:
Type: TXT
Domain: yoursite.sa
Value: "v=spf1 ip4:185.220.101.25 include:_spf.google.com ~all"
SPF tells mail servers: "Only these sources are authorized to send mail in the name of our domain."
DKIM — Digital Signature for Email:
Type: TXT
Domain: default._domainkey.yoursite.sa
Value: "v=DKIM1; k=rsa; p=MIGfMA0GCSqGSIb3DQEBAQUAA4GN..."
DKIM adds a digital signature to every outgoing email, proving it was actually sent from your server.
DMARC — Policy for Handling Suspicious Email:
Type: TXT
Domain: _dmarc.yoursite.sa
Value: "v=DMARC1; p=quarantine; rua=mailto:dmarc@yoursite.sa"
p=none for monitoring, p=quarantine to place in spam, p=reject for complete rejection.
DNS Propagation Time
Changes in DNS do not take effect immediately. The time depends on the current TTL (Time To Live):
| TTL | Propagation time |
|---|---|
| 3600 (one hour) | 1-2 hours |
| 86400 (one day) | 24-48 hours |
| 300 (5 minutes) | 5-15 minutes |
Tip for migrations: 24 hours before changing IP, lower TTL to 300 seconds. This speeds up propagation after the change. After propagation, raise TTL again.
Testing propagation:
# Check A record
dig yoursite.sa A @8.8.8.8
# Check MX record
dig yoursite.sa MX @8.8.8.8
# Or use a web tool: dnschecker.org
Common DNS Mistakes
1. Adding a dot at the end of the domain name:
Some interfaces expect mail.yoursite.sa. (with a trailing dot) and some do not. If the record fails, try adding or removing the dot.
2. CNAME on the root domain:
yoursite.sa does not accept CNAME. Use an A Record or ALIAS Record.
3. Incorrect MX records: Email not working? Check: does the MX record point to a CNAME? MX must point directly to an A Record or FQDN.
4. Multiple SPF records: There cannot be more than one SPF record. Merge all sources into a single record.
Pointing a Domain to a كلاود Server
When subscribing to a server on كلاود, you will receive:
- The server IP
- Two DNS server names (ns1, ns2)
Option 1 (if you want to manage DNS from your domain registrar):
- Add A Record:
@ pointing to server IP - Add A Record:
www pointing to server IP - Edit MX records if you want email on the server
Option 2 (manage DNS from cPanel):
- Change Name Servers at the domain registrar to the ns1/ns2 provided by كلاود
- Manage everything from Zone Editor in cPanel
Option 2 simplifies management — everything in one place.
Get Started
Want to try it yourself? Choose the right hosting plan or build your custom server with the specs you need.
