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Manage Vanity Name Servers

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Vanity name servers let DNSimple answer DNS for your domain while the public NS names use your hostnames (for example ns1.example.com). You turn them on from the section of the domain’s tab, and DNSimple supports up to four, ns1 to ns4. For what vanity name servers are and when they apply, read What Are Vanity Name Servers?.

Note

Vanity name servers are only available on Enterprise plans.

Enabling Vanity Name Servers

Open the vanity name servers card
  1. Use the at the top of the page to select the account you want to work with.
  2. In your list, click the name of the domain where you want to enable vanity name servers.
  3. Click the tab.
  4. Scroll to the section.

You will see two options:

  • Configure: set up this domain as the source of vanity name servers (for example ns1.yourdomain.com).
  • Delegate: use an existing vanity name server configuration from another domain.

Vanity name servers card with Configure and Delegate

Using the same domain

Click when the name server names live on the same domain you are editing (for example, ns1.yourdomain.com for yourdomain.com). DNSimple adds the required A and AAAA records for the vanity hosts and, if the domain is registered with DNSimple, also adds glue records at the registry.

If the domain is registered elsewhere and you use DNSimple only for DNS, ask your registrar to add the glue records. Use the IPv4 and IPv6 targets listed in DNSimple name servers.

Enable vanity on the same domain
  1. Click .
  2. Click . DNSimple adds the records the setup needs.

Vanity name servers form with Use this domain selected and an arrow pointing to Enable Vanity Name Servers

Message confirming the vanity name servers were created and the domain is delegated through them

Using another domain

Use this path when the vanity hostnames are on a different domain than the zone you are configuring.

Enable vanity using another domain
  1. Enter the fully qualified domain name (FQDN) for each vanity name server hostname you want to use.
  2. Click .

Warning

The FQDNs you enter must already resolve correctly on the other domain. If they do not, your domain will not resolve. See DNSimple name servers for the IPv4 and IPv6 addresses you typically need when you point glue or A/AAAA targets at DNSimple.

Vanity Name Servers using other domain

If the domain is registered with DNSimple, delegation updates automatically. If the domain is registered elsewhere, update name server delegation at your registrar to the vanity hostnames you configured.

Delegating to existing vanity name servers

Use this section when vanity name servers are already configured on another domain and you want this domain to use them.

Delegate to existing vanity hosts
  1. Use the to select the correct account.
  2. In your list, click the domain you want to delegate.
  3. Click the tab.
  4. Scroll to the section and click .
  5. Select the vanity name server configuration you want to use, then click .

If the domain is registered with DNSimple, delegation updates automatically. If the domain is registered elsewhere, update the name servers at your registrar to match the hostnames you selected.

Delegate Vanity Name Servers

Disabling Vanity Name Servers

Stop using vanity name servers
  1. Open the domain, click the tab, and find the card.
  2. Click for each zone that is currently delegated to the vanity hosts.
  3. When no zones remain delegated, click .
  4. Confirm in the dialog if prompted.

Vanity name servers card for a zone delegated to vanity name servers, with an arrow pointing to Stop delegation

Vanity name servers card with no zones delegating and an arrow pointing to Disable

Disable vanity name servers confirmation dialog listing the name servers that will be disabled

Note

Disabling vanity name servers changes the NS records served for the zone back to defaults. If the domain is registered with DNSimple, delegation also reverts to standard name servers automatically. If the domain is registered elsewhere, update delegation at your registrar to DNSimple name servers.

Note

If the domain is registered with DNSimple, related glue records are also removed when they apply to the same domain name. If the domain is registered elsewhere, ask your registrar to remove glue records for the old vanity hosts.

Have more questions?

If you have questions about vanity name servers, contact support, and we will be happy to help. You can also read more about DNS hosting at DNSimple.