Home Reseller Hosting How to Configure Domain Nameservers: A Step-by-Step Guide for Web Hosting Resellers

How to Configure Domain Nameservers: A Step-by-Step Guide for Web Hosting Resellers

Last updated on Aug 08, 2025

How to Configure Domain Nameservers: A Step-by-Step Guide for Web Hosting Resellers

Description:
This comprehensive guide will walk you through setting up and updating domain nameservers across various domain registrars. We’ll focus on DNS configuration best practices for resellers using Brixly’s shared hosting, VPS, and reseller hosting platforms. This article is tailored for customers with basic technical knowledge and does not require server administrator access.

Table of Contents

Introduction

If you’re a web hosting reseller, setting up correct domain nameservers is a crucial first step for your clients’ websites and emails to function properly. This guide covers:

  • What nameservers do
  • How to find your reseller hosting nameserver information
  • How to update nameservers at different registrars
  • DNS setup best practices
  • Troubleshooting tips

What Are Nameservers?

Nameservers are part of the Domain Name System (DNS). They tell the internet where to find your website and how to handle email delivery for your domain.

When you update a domain’s nameservers to point to your reseller hosting, you’re directing all DNS management (A, MX, CNAME, etc.) to your hosting provider (e.g., Brixly).

Example:

ns1.hostns.io
ns2.hostns.io

Where to Find Your Nameserver Details

Your Brixly reseller hosting welcome email contains the correct nameservers for your package. If you’re unsure, you can also:

Important:
Always use the nameservers provided for your specific hosting package.

Step-by-Step: Updating Nameservers at Your Registrar

Note:
Every domain registrar’s control panel looks slightly different, but the process is similar.

1. Locate Your Registrar’s DNS/Nameserver Settings

  • Log in to your domain registrar’s dashboard (e.g., GoDaddy, Namecheap, 123-Reg)
  • Navigate to the domain management section
  • Find the option for “Nameservers” or “DNS Settings”

2. Replace Existing Nameservers

  • Select “Custom nameservers” if prompted
  • Enter the two (or more) nameservers provided in your Brixly welcome email

Example:

ns1.hostns.io
ns2.hostns.io
  • Remove any old/default nameservers
  • Save or apply changes

3. Allow for DNS Propagation

Changes to nameservers can take up to 48 hours but usually complete within a few hours.

Registrar-Specific Examples

GoDaddy

  1. Log in to GoDaddy
  2. Go to “Domains” → Select your domain
  3. Under “Additional Settings,” click “Manage DNS”
  4. Scroll to “Nameservers” → Click “Change”
  5. Select “Enter my own nameservers (advanced)”
  6. Enter your Brixly nameservers
  7. Click “Save”

Namecheap

  1. Log in to Namecheap
  2. Go to “Domain List” → Click “Manage” next to your domain
  3. Find the “Nameservers” section
  4. Select “Custom DNS”
  5. Enter your Brixly nameservers
  6. Click the checkmark to save

DNS Best Practices for Resellers

  • Always use your assigned nameservers for new domains or when migrating clients.
  • Avoid mixing DNS providers. If you use Brixly nameservers, manage all DNS records through cPanel’s Zone Editor.
  • Update DNS records in cPanel:
    Use cPanel → Domains → Zone Editor to add or modify A, MX, CNAME, TXT records for your client domains.
  • If using external DNS (e.g., Cloudflare):
    Update the relevant DNS records at the external provider instead of cPanel.

Verifying Nameserver Changes

  • Use tools like DNS Checker to confirm your domain points to the correct nameservers globally.
  • Check propagation status by searching for your domain and reviewing the results.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

1. Nameserver Changes Not Taking Effect

  • Solution: Allow up to 48 hours for global DNS propagation.
  • Tip: Clear your browser cache or flush your local DNS cache.

Flush DNS on Windows:

ipconfig /flushdns

Flush DNS on MacOS:

sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

2. Website Still Not Loading

  • Use cPanel → Zone Editor to check your domain’s A record points to the correct server IP.
  • Test with WHOIS Lookup to confirm nameservers are set as expected.

3. Email Not Working

  • Ensure MX records are correct in cPanel → Zone Editor.
  • If using third-party email (e.g., Google Workspace), set MX records accordingly.

Useful Tools & Resources

Summary

Setting up and updating domain nameservers is essential for resellers managing client websites and email. Follow these best practices:

  • Always use your assigned nameservers
  • Update DNS records through cPanel, unless using an external DNS provider
  • Allow time for DNS propagation, and use online tools to verify changes
  • Troubleshoot using the steps above before contacting support

If you encounter persistent issues after following these steps, please submit a support ticket with details of your domain, registrar, and steps taken so far. We’re here to help!

For more reseller hosting tips and guides, visit our Brixly Knowledge Base.