Technical documentation for Hovixa users on managing DNS zone files. Step-by-step instructions to create and modify A, CNAME, TXT, and SRV records in cPanel.

Configuring DNS Records via cPanel Zone Editor

The cPanel Zone Editor allows direct manipulation of your domain's DNS zone file. Modifications here dictate how your domain routes traffic for web, email, and auxiliary services. Changes require active Hovixa nameservers to take effect.

Accessing the Zone Editor

1. Log in to cpanel.hovixa.com.
2. Locate the Domains section.
3. Click Zone Editor.
4. Locate the target domain and click Manage to access the complete zone file.

1. A Record (Address Record)

Maps a hostname directly to an IPv4 address. This is the fundamental record for web traffic routing.

Configuration:

• Name: The hostname (e.g., example.com. or sub.example.com.). Note the trailing dot required in strict DNS syntax; cPanel will auto-append this if omitted.
• TTL (Time to Live): 14400 (Default) or lower if planning an imminent IP migration.
• Type: Select A.
• Record: The target IPv4 address (e.g., 192.0.2.1).

2. CNAME Record (Canonical Name)

Maps an alias name to a true (canonical) domain name. The DNS resolver will look up the A record of the target domain.

Protocol Constraint: Per RFC 1034, a CNAME record cannot exist at the zone apex (the root domain, e.g., example.com). It must only be used for subdomains (e.g., www.example.com).

Configuration:

• Name: The alias hostname (e.g., www.example.com.).
• TTL: 14400.
• Type: Select CNAME.
• Record: The destination hostname (e.g., example.com). Must be a domain, not an IP address.

3. TXT Record (Text Record)

Holds machine-readable text data. Primarily utilized for domain ownership verification and email authentication protocols (SPF, DKIM, DMARC).

Configuration:

• Name: The relevant hostname (e.g., example.com. for SPF, or _dmarc.example.com. for DMARC).
• TTL: 14400.
• Type: Select TXT.
• Record: The required text string (e.g., v=spf1 +a +mx +ip4:192.0.2.1 ~all).

4. SRV Record (Service Record)

Specifies the location (hostname and port number) of servers for specific services, such as SIP, XMPP, or game servers like Minecraft.

Configuration:

• Name: Formatted as _service._protocol.name (e.g., _sip._tcp.example.com.).
• TTL: 14400.
• Type: Select SRV.
• Priority: The priority of the target host (lower value = higher priority).
• Weight: A relative weight for records with the same priority (higher value = higher frequency of selection).
• Port: The TCP or UDP port on which the service is found.
• Target: The canonical hostname of the machine providing the service.

Post-Modification

DNS propagation relies on global ISP caching governed by the TTL value. While local cPanel routing updates instantly, external global resolution will take time equal to the previous record's TTL (typically up to 4 hours for standard 14400 setups).