If you have a VPS or dedicated server, you can register your own private nameservers (such as ns1.yourdomain.com and ns2.yourdomain.com) instead of using your hosting provider's default nameservers. This gives you more control and a professional appearance for your hosting setup.
Prerequisites
Before you begin, you need IP addresses for your nameservers. These are typically provided in your welcome email when you receive your VPS or dedicated server. If you cannot find them, contact your hosting provider's support team to obtain the IP addresses.
How to set up private nameservers
-
Step 1: Register nameservers with your domain registrar
Log in to your domain registrar's control panel and register your nameservers (e.g., ns1.yourdomain.com and ns2.yourdomain.com) with the IP addresses you obtained. The exact process varies by registrar, but typically involves creating "glue records" or "nameserver hosts" in the domain management section.
-
Step 2: Access WHM DNS configuration
Log in to WHM (Web Host Manager) and navigate to the DNS Functions section. Select Edit DNS Zone from the menu.
-
Step 3: Select and edit your domain
From the drop-down list, select the domain name you want to configure with the nameserver and click Edit.
-
Step 4: Update the SOA record
Update the SOA (Start of Authority) record to list your primary nameserver and email address. This ensures that your private nameservers are properly configured for the domain.
-
Step 5: Configure default nameservers for new accounts (optional)
If you want your private nameservers to be used automatically on all new cPanel accounts and addon domains, go to Basic cPanel & WHM Setup in WHM and add your custom nameservers in the nameserver fields. This ensures all future accounts will use your private nameservers by default.