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Domain Names

Domain Names
Dennis Nind
By Dennis Nind
16 articles

Which nameservers should I use with Brixly hosting?

Of course. That kind of data is best structured with clear headings and lists to make it easy to find and copy the correct information. Here is that text reformatted into a clean, easy-to-read Markdown structure. Nameserver Records Important: The correct set of nameservers to use will have been sent in your welcome email and may vary from those supplied below. Always refer to your welcome email first. cPanel Servers UK - ns1.hostns.io (109.70.148.2) - ns2.hostns.io (109.70.148.3) USA - ns1.usa.cloudns.io (165.227.179.247) - ns2.usa.cloudns.io (138.197.193.124) Germany - ns1.germany.hostns.io (116.202.97.64) - ns2.germany.hostns.io (116.203.92.101) Singapore - ns1.singapore.cloudns.io (139.180.138.124) - ns2.singapore.cloudns.io (149.28.152.70) DirectAdmin Servers UK & Germany - ns1.da.hostns.io (109.70.148.6) - ns2.da.hostns.io (109.70.148.7) USA - ns1.usa.cloudns.io (165.227.179.247) - ns2.usa.cloudns.io (138.197.193.124) Premium Hosting Servers UK - ns1.premium.hostns.io (109.70.148.4) - ns2.premium.hostns.io (109.70.148.5) USA - ns1.premium.usa.hostns.io (5.161.75.119) - ns2.premium.usa.hostns.io (5.161.75.120) Please Note: - The nameservers you should use may vary depending on which cloud platform your hosting account has been created on. Please refer to your welcome email to confirm. - If you are using a dedicated server or a VPS, the above will not apply. We do not offer a shared DNS service for VPS / Dedicated Servers, so BIND should be running locally to serve the DNS zones.

Last updated on Jun 12, 2025

Registering a New Domain with Brixly

Registering a new domain name with Brixly is a simple and straightforward process. This guide will walk you through the necessary steps to secure your online identity. Step 1: Check Domain Availability Before registering a domain, you need to check if it's available. Here's how: 1. Click here to search for a domain 2. Enter the domain name you want to register in the search box. 3. Click "Search" to check if the domain is available. If the domain is available, you can proceed to the next step. If not, you'll need to try a different domain name. Step 2: Choose Your Domain Once you've found an available domain, you can choose it for registration. Click "Add to Cart" next to the domain you want to register. Step 3: Review Your Order After adding the domain to your cart, you can review your order. Make sure the domain name and extension (like .com, .net, etc.) are correct. Step 4: Checkout When you're ready to register the domain, click "Checkout." You'll be asked to provide your contact information and payment details. Step 5: Complete the Registration After providing your details, click "Complete Order" to register the domain. You'll receive a confirmation email once the registration is successful. Step 6: Manage Your Domain Once the domain is registered, you can manage it from your Brixly Client Area. You can update your contact information, renew your domain, and more. By following these steps, you can easily register a new domain with Brixly. If you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to contact our support team.

Last updated on Jun 12, 2025

What is the IPS Tag for UK transfers to Brixly?

**IPS Tag for Brixly: **CLOUDNS What is an IPS Tag? An IPS Tag, also known as an Internet Provider Security Tag, is a unique identifier used by the UK domain registry (Nominet) to manage .uk domain names. This tag is used to associate a domain name with a specific domain registrar. When you want to transfer a .uk domain from one registrar to another, you need to change the IPS Tag to the one associated with the new registrar. This is a crucial step in the domain transfer process for .uk domains. Brixly's IPS Tag When you're transferring a .uk domain to Brixly, you'll need to change the IPS Tag to Brixly's unique tag. Brixly's IPS Tag is CLOUDNS. How to Use Brixly's IPS Tag for Domain Migration When you're ready to transfer your .uk domain to Brixly, follow these steps: 1. Initiate the transfer on Brixly's side. Log in to your Brixly account, navigate to the domain transfer section, and follow the prompts to complete the transfer. 2. Contact your current domain registrar. You'll need to request that they change the IPS Tag for your domain to CLOUDNS. The process for this will vary depending on your current registrar, but it usually involves submitting a request through their website or contacting their support team. 3. Wait for the change to take effect. Once your current registrar has processed your request, the IPS Tag for your domain will be updated in the Nominet database. This can take anywhere from a few minutes to 24 hours.  Remember, changing the IPS Tag only associates the domain with the new registrar. To fully complete the transfer, you'll also need to approve the transfer on Brixly's side. Need Help? If you have any questions or need assistance with the domain transfer process, don't hesitate to contact Brixly's support team. We're here to help make the transfer process as smooth as possible for you.

Last updated on Jun 12, 2025

How do I enable Cloudflare for my websites?

Step 1: Sign up for a Cloudflare Account 1. Open your preferred web browser and navigate to the Cloudflare website (https://www.cloudflare.com). 2. Click on the "Sign Up" button to create a new account. 3. Follow the registration process, providing the required details such as your email address and password. 4. Verify your email address to activate your Cloudflare account. Step 2: Add your Website to Cloudflare 1. After logging in to your Cloudflare account, click on the "Add a Site" button. 2. Enter your domain name in the provided field and click "Add Site." 3. Cloudflare will scan your DNS records and provide a list of DNS configurations. Review and ensure they are correct. 4. Click the "Continue" button to proceed. Step 3: Change Your Domain's Nameservers 1. Cloudflare will display the nameservers you need to use for your domain. 2. Open a new tab or window and log in to your domain registrar's website. 3. Locate the DNS or Nameservers settings for your domain. 4. Replace the existing nameservers with the ones provided by Cloudflare. 5. Save the changes. Step 4: Configure Cloudflare DNS Settings 1. Go back to the Cloudflare dashboard. 2. Click on the "DNS" tab. 3. Review the DNS records and ensure they match your website's configuration. 4. Add or modify DNS records as needed. 5. Save any changes you make. Step 5: Verify Cloudflare Integration 1. Wait for the DNS changes to propagate, which can take up to 24 hours. 2. To verify the integration, visit your website and check if it is now utilizing Cloudflare's services. 3. You can also use online DNS lookup tools to confirm that your domain's nameservers have been updated to Cloudflare's nameservers. Congratulations! You have successfully enabled Cloudflare for your website without using the cPanel plugin. Cloudflare will now protect and optimize your website's performance. Additional Considerations: - Explore Cloudflare's dashboard to access various security, performance, and caching options available for your website. - Familiarize yourself with Cloudflare's documentation and available features to make the most of the service. - Regularly monitor your Cloudflare account for any updates, notifications, or recommended actions. Note: If you encounter any issues during the process, it is recommended to consult Cloudflare's support documentation or contact their support team for assistance tailored to your specific situation.

Last updated on Jun 12, 2025

How to Direct a Domain to an External Web Service

When you need to use an external web service provider such as Weebly, Moonfruit, WIX, SquareSpace, or others, you'll need to configure your domain to point to that service. This guide will walk you through the process while ensuring that your email continues to function normally. Preparing for Changes Before you begin, you should be logged into the cPanel account associated with the domain you're adjusting. You'll be using the cPanel DNS Zone Editor to make these changes. Also, be aware that these changes may require you to adjust the configuration of your email software. After these changes, you'll need to use your Home Server name to log into your webmail or cPanel account, rather than your domain name. Adjusting Your "A" Record If you want your apex domain (the domain name itself) - e.g. https://yourdomain.com - to point to the external web service, you'll need to adjust your "A" record. 1. Open the DNS Zone Editor in cPanel. 2. Click on 'Manage' next to the domain you'd like to point. 3. Look for the entry for your domain in the Zone File Records. This is the entry that shows your domain without anything in front of it. 4. Click the 'Edit' link to open up the editor pane. 5. Note the existing IP address (this is your homeserver IP address - you will need this later) and then change the Address field to the IP address provided by the external web service provider. 6. Click the 'Edit Record' button to confirm the change. Adjusting Your CNAME Record Your external web service provider may also ask you to change the CNAME record for your www.yourdomain address. 1. Look for your www host entry and click on the 'Edit' link. 2. Enter the new CNAME target in this field. This will be provided by your external web service provider. 3. Click the 'Edit Record' button to confirm the change. Ensuring Mail Delivery Continues Normally After changing your A record, it's important to ensure that your mail delivery continues normally. 1. Look for the mail.yourdomain CNAME record and click on the 'Edit' link. 2. Change the record Type from CNAME to A. 3. Enter your server's original IP address (you took note of this above in the section "Altering your "A" record"). 4. Click the 'Edit Record' button to confirm the change. Next, log into the Spam Experts system via your cPanel account and change your delivery destination either to mail.yourdomain or your Server Hostname name directly. Email Software Configuration Changes If you were using your naked domain as the incoming and outgoing mail servers, then you will also have to change your incoming and outgoing mail servers to either mail.yourdomain or your server hostname instead. All other configurations will remain unaffected.  Remember, if you're unsure about something, don't hesitate to reach out to the Brixly support team. We're here to help!

Last updated on Jun 12, 2025

Understanding Domain ID Protection: A Comprehensive Guide

Domain ID Protection is a service that hides your personal information from the public WHOIS database, which is a publicly accessible database that lists the owners of every domain name. This guide will help you understand how Domain ID Protection works and how to enable it for your domain. Why Use Domain ID Protection? When you register a domain name, your personal details such as your name, address, phone number, and email address are stored in the WHOIS database. This information is publicly accessible, meaning anyone can look it up. Domain ID Protection hides this information from the public, helping to protect your privacy and reduce the risk of spam. How Domain ID Protection Works **UK Domains: **For all domains that end in .UK (a .UK TLD), WHOIS protection is applied **automatically **to the domain without you needing to take any other steps. For other TLDs, GDPR protection may be applied if the contact associated with the domain is within the EEA and the UK. In this case, the contact details would be replaced with hidden details, such as: - Registry Registrant ID: GDPR Masked - Registrant Name: GDPR Masked - Registrant Organization: GDPR Masked - Registrant Street: GDPR Masked - Registrant City: GDPR Masked - Registrant State/Province: Essex - Registrant Postal Code: GDPR Masked - Registrant Country: GB - Registrant Phone: GDPR Masked - Registrant Fax: GDPR Masked - Registrant Email: gdpr-masking@gdpr-masked.com How to Enable Domain ID Protection You can check if GDPR protection is currently enabled for your domain from within your Client Area via: Client Area -> Domains -> Select Domain -> Manage Data Protection We also offer ID protection, a separate service applicable to non-UK domains regardless of the contacts set on the domain. This is a paid service which can be accessed via: Client Area -> Domains -> Select Domain -> Addons Please note that ID Protection is not available for every domain. If you have any questions about whether ID protection is applicable for your domain, please contact our sales team directly.

Last updated on Jun 12, 2025

How to force www or non-www via your .htaccess file

Many customers request to force their site's www or non-www version to display in their visitor’s browser. For example, you can have www.example.com or example.com displayed in an address bar. While this difference won’t affect how visitors find your site, it can be a matter of aesthetic preference.  SEO recommendations suggest that it is best to force your domain to either the www, or non-www so that your website is treated by search engines as a single domain. Both www. and non-www are separate entities, as far as Google Search is concerned, and therefore you may be penalized for having 'duplicates' if this is not setup correctly for your domains. This article will guide you through how to force www or non-www in your .htaccess file. You can access the .htaccess file through the cPanel File Manager.  Force www or non-www in your .htaccess file in cPanel 1. First, log into your cPanel. 2. Once logged into cPanel, Find the Files category and click on the File Manager icon. 3. Next, click Settings at the top right corner. 4. In the Settings Menu, choose the document root (or folder) for the domain you are working with and be sure the checkbox next to Show Hidden Files is checked. Click the Save button. 5. Look for the .htaccess file and right click on it. This brings up a menu. Find and click on the Edit option. 6. You are now in the text editor. Place either selection of code in the file and click on the Save Changes button at the top right corner of the screen. Be sure to replace ‘example.com‘ with your actual domain name. NOTE: do not place both selections of code in the file as it will cause an error. Below are examples of code that you can use to implement the desired change to the website. Force www #Force www: RewriteEngine on RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^example.com [NC] RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://www.example.com/$1 [L,R=301,NC] Force non-www #Force non-www: RewriteEngine on RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^www.example.com [NC] RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://example.com/$1 [L,R=301] Congratulations, you have successfully forced www or non-www! When you type in your domain name with either www in front or not, it should display as you have set it in the .htaccess file.

Last updated on Jun 12, 2025

Speeding Up DNS Lookups Using Cloudflare or Google Public DNS Resolvers

DNS (Domain Name System) is a system that translates domain names, which are easy for humans to understand, into IP addresses, which are used by machines. When you use a DNS resolver like Cloudflare or Google Public DNS, you're changing your DNS "switchboard" operator from your ISP to a faster and more secure one. This guide will walk you through how to use Cloudflare and Google Public DNS resolvers to speed up DNS lookups. Why Use Cloudflare or Google Public DNS Resolvers? By default, DNS is usually slow and insecure. Your ISP, and anyone else listening in on the Internet, can see every site you visit and every app you use — even if their content is encrypted. Some DNS providers even sell data about your Internet activity or use it to target you with ads. Cloudflare and Google Public DNS are designed to speed up and secure your web browsing experience. They offer faster DNS lookups and don't sell your data to advertisers. **Important: **When dealing with web hosting environments where you are changing DNS records frequently, your network will be able to recognise those changes in advance of typical 'DNS Propagation' phases. We strongly recommend anyone using our platform to utilize alternative DNS resolvers, such as the following. How to Use Cloudflare or Google Public DNS Resolvers Setting up Cloudflare or Google Public DNS takes two minutes and requires no technical skill or special software. Here's how to do it: 1. Click on the Start menu, then click on Control Panel. 2. Click on Network and Internet. 3. Click on Change Adapter Settings. 4. Right-click on the Wi-Fi network you are connected to, then click Properties. 5. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (or Version 6 if desired). 6. Click Properties. 7. Write down any existing DNS server entries for future reference. 8. Click Use The Following DNS Server Addresses. Now, replace those addresses with the Cloudflare or Google Public DNS addresses: - For Cloudflare: - **For IPv4: **1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1 - **For IPv6: **2606:4700:4700::1111 and 2606:4700:4700::1001 - For Google Public DNS: - For IPv4: 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 1. Click OK, then Close. 2. Restart your browser. You're all set! Your device now has faster, more private DNS servers.

Last updated on Jun 12, 2025

How do I transfer my domain to Brixly?

Transferring your domain to Brixly can be a straightforward process. This guide will walk you through the necessary steps to ensure a smooth transfer. Pre-Transfer Checklist Before initiating the transfer of a non-UK domain (e.g., .COM, .NET, .ORG), you need to ensure that your current provider has unlocked it. If you're unsure about this, please check with them. For UK domains, they cannot be 'unlocked' - instead, an explicit update of an 'IPS Tag' is required to *release *the domain from the previous registrar (more information below).  Domain Transfer Pricing Our domain pricing can be found here. UK transfers are free of charge when sufficient time is left on the domain. However, if the domain is due for renewal, a renewal charge will be applied during the checkout. Non-UK domains are chargeable and renewed as part of the transfer process. How to Transfer Your Domain to Brixly 1. Visit the Brixly Client Area. 2. If you are logged in, go to Domains -> Transfer Domains to Us. If you are a new customer, go to Store -> Transfer Domains to Us. 3. Enter the domain you wish to transfer. 4. If you are transferring a non-UK domain, such as .com, .net, etc., then you will need to enter your EPP / Authorisation code, which you will need to obtain from the current registrar. 5. If you are transferring a UK domain, you can leave the EPP field blank. 6. Proceed through the checkout to initiate the transfer. UK Transfers – IPS Tag Update To complete the transfer of a UK domain name, you will need to update the ‘IPS Tag’ of the domain with the existing / previous registrar.  Our IPS Tag is 'CLOUDNS' Non-UK Transfers After you have placed the Transfer Order, the Registrant Contact for the domain name will receive an e-mail from Brixly for the Transfer Authorization process, which needs to be approved within 5 days. If the Registrant Contact does not approve the Transfer within 5 days, it is assumed that the Registrant Contact does not wish for the Transfer to complete, and the Order is deleted / cancelled in our system automatically. The process for transferring non-UK domains varies depending on the domain's TLD. For example, .AU, .DE, .ES, .EU, and .NZ domains each have their own specific transfer processes. After clicking the approval link in the Transfer Authorization email, the Registrant Contact needs to provide the Domain (Transfer) Secret Key/Authorization Code (if this wasn’t entered in the original transfer order). Once the mail has been approved by the Registrant Contact and the Domain (Transfer) Secret Key/Authorization Code submitted, the Current Registrar will be notified regarding the transfer. If the Transfer is not denied by either the Registrant Contact or the Current Registrar, the domain name will be Transferred to your account with Brixly in the next 5 days. By understanding the domain transfer process and following these steps, you can easily transfer your domain to Brixly. It's important to note that renewal is necessary upon transfer, in accordance with ICANN's transfer policy as outlined in the section titled 'Effect on Term of Registration,' which can be found at the following URL: https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/transfer-policy-2016-06-01-en.

Last updated on Jun 12, 2025

How do I update my domains nameservers?

Updating the nameservers for your domain is an essential step in managing your website's DNS and ensuring that your domain points to the correct hosting provider. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to update nameservers for a domain registered with Brixly, along with some general guidance for other registrars. For Domains Registered with Brixly: 1. Log into Your Brixly Client Area: Start by logging into your Brixly client area. 2. Navigate to the Domain Management Section: Once logged in, go to the 'Domains -> My Domains' section and select 'Manage' for the domain you wish to update. 3. Access Nameserver Settings: In the domain management area, look for the 'Nameservers' option under the 'Manage' section for your domain. 4. Enter the New Nameservers: Replace the existing nameserver entries with the new ones. If you're using Brixly's hosting services, the correct nameservers would have been provided in your welcome email. 5. Save the Changes: After entering the new nameservers, save the changes. Keep in mind that DNS changes can take up to 24 hours to propagate across the internet. General Guidance for Other Registrars: 1. Log into the Registrar's Website: Access your account on the domain registrar's website where your domain is currently managed. 2. Find the DNS Settings: Look for the 'DNS', 'Nameserver', or 'Domain Management' section within your account dashboard. 3. Update the Nameservers: Enter the new nameserver details in the provided fields. This process may vary slightly depending on the registrar. 4. Confirm the Changes: Save or confirm the changes. As with Brixly, remember that it may take up to 24 hours for the changes to fully propagate. Additional Tips: - Propagation Time: After updating nameservers, it's normal for the changes to take some time to propagate. During this period, your website may be intermittently accessible or may point to the previous hosting provider until propagation is complete. - Custom Nameservers: If you're setting up custom nameservers, ensure that you've registered the hostnames (glue records) with your domain registrar and that they point to the correct IP addresses. - Verification: After the propagation period, you can verify that the nameservers have been updated successfully by performing a 'whois' check or using DNS lookup tools. - Support: If you encounter any issues or need assistance, our Brixly support team is here to help. You can reach out to us through the support ticket system within your client area. By following these steps, you can successfully update the nameservers for your domain. 

Last updated on Jun 12, 2025