Table of Contents
DNS refers to the Domain Name System, which takes a human-understandable domain name such as “cloudways.com” and translates it to an IP address (35.178.xx.xx) of the server where the website is hosted. For this purpose, we create DNS entries usually hosted at a third-party DNS/Domain registrar service of your choice, like DNS Made Easy, Namecheap, GoDaddy, Cloudflare, etc.
In this post, we’ll show how to create an A record to map an IP address (IPv4 address) to a domain or subdomain. We are assuming you have already launched an application on the Cloudways Platform and added your domain(s). If not, follow our take site live checklist.
Tip
Please note that the Domain Registrar is the company from where you purchased your domain, while the DNS records can be hosted at the same domain registrar or any third-party service.
How to Create an A Record
We have created two flows so you can easily add A records if you are using the DNS Made Easy Addon of Cloudways or if you are using any other third-party DNS registrar provider. Please select your preferred option:
DNS Made Easy
The first step is to add your domain so you can add the A records. If your domain has already been added, you can skip to the next step.
Step #1 – Add Domain(s)
Here's how you can add domain(s) to manage them using DNS Made Easy:
First, click Add Domain.
Next, enter your domain, e.g., example.com. If you want to add multiple domains, you can click Add Domain and bulk add up to 10 domains.
Finally, click Save Changes.
Once your domain is added, it will appear as 'Inactive'. Now, you need to add the DNS Made Easy nameservers in your DNS registrar panel. The DNS registrar is the company from where you purchased your domain, e.g., GoDaddy, Namecheap, etc,.
Next, click Configure Nameservers.
Here, you'll find the nameservers that need to be copied and added to your DNS registrar panel. While we recommend adding all the provided nameservers, if your DNS registrar limits the number you can add, we suggest incorporating the maximum allowable nameservers.
Our domain was purchased from Namecheap, so we are adding these nameservers on Namecheap.
After adding the nameservers, you may need to wait as it takes 24-48 hours for the nameservers to propagate across the network. Once nameservers are propagated, you will see an 'Active' status against your domain.
After nameservers propagation, the next step is to manage your domain from the Cloudways Platform and add DNS records to take your website(s) live.
Step #2 – Add A Records
First, click the ⋮ (ellipsis) icon to reveal more options and click Manage Records.
Next, click Add Record.
Next, you can start adding the A records you need. First of all, select the Record Type as A record.
Now, add all the required information as per your chosen record type. You can review some sample A records given below.
Finally, click Save Changes.
Tip:
To add multiple records at once, please click Add Record.
Here are some sample A records:
Point the following A Record if you want to point a root domain (yourdomain.com) to the IP address:
Type: A
Host/Name: @ or blank
Value/Target: Your IP address (available in application information)
TTL: Default or select of your choice
Point the following A Record if you want to point a domain with www (www.yourdomain.com) to the IP address:
Type: A
Host/Name: www
Value/Target: Your IP address (available in application information)
TTL: Default or select of your choice
Point the following A Record if you want to point a subdomain (blog.yourdomain.com) to the IP address:
Type: A
Host/Name: blog (any subdomain)
Value/Target: Your IP address (available in application information)
TTL: Default or select of your choice
Point the following A Record if you want to use a wildcard. A wildcard record acts as a catch-all record, which means that it resolves every subdomain you haven’t defined to an IP address.
Type: A
Host/Name: *
Value/Target: Your IP address (available in application information)
TTL: Default or select of your choice
You have learned how to add the A records. Please note that it may take 24-48 hours for the DNS records to propagate across the network.
Other DNS Registrars
Accessing the DNS management panel can vary depending on the chosen service. Still, the process of creating a DNS record should not vary much. Here, we will use the domain “cloudways.icu” hosted on Namecheap for demonstration purposes.
Step #1 – Access your DNS Management Panel
Log in to your Domain Registrar Panel.
Select your target domain and visit the DNS management section.
Step #2 – Create an A Record
Create your new A records here. We have given some sample A records below for your help:
Point the following A Record if you want to point a root domain (yourdomain.com) to the IP address:
Type: A
Host/Name: @ or blank
Value/Target: Your IP address (available in application information)
TTL: Automatic/Default or select of your choice
Point the following A Record if you want to point a domain with www (www.yourdomain.com) to the IP address:
Type: A
Host/Name: www
Value/Target: Your IP address (available in application information)
TTL: Automatic/Default or select of your choice
Point the following A Record if you want to point a subdomain (blog.yourdomain.com) to the IP address:
Type: A
Host/Name: blog (any subdomain)
Value/Target: Your IP address (available in application information)
TTL: Automatic/Default or select of your choice
Point the following A Record if you want to use a wildcard. A wildcard record acts as a catch-all record, which means that it resolves every subdomain you haven’t defined to an IP address.
Type: A
Host/Name: *
Value/Target: Your IP address (available in application information)
TTL: Automatic/Default or select of your choice
Make sure to save all the changes. Once you have added or updated the DNS records, it may take up to 24 hours for your changes to be effective across the internet.
How to Check DNS Records Propagation Status
You can check the status of your DNS records or particular A Records propagation by using any third-party tool such as whatsmydns.net.
That’s it! We hope this tutorial was helpful. If you need any help, then feel free to search your query on Cloudways Support Center or contact us via chat (Need a Hand > Send us a Message). Alternatively, you can also create a support ticket.
Grow your business by switching to a Hostinger alternative. With fast service and high performance, Cloudways won't let your business down.