DNS (Domain Name System) records tell the internet where to find your website, email, and other services. Virtualmin includes built-in DNS management, allowing you to view and modify records directly from your control panel when your domain is hosted on this server.
Accessing DNS Settings:
1. Log in to your Virtualmin dashboard.
2. From the domain drop-down menu in the top-left corner, select the site you want to manage.
3. In the left menu, click Server Configuration → DNS Records.
4. You’ll see a list of all existing records, including A, MX, CNAME, and TXT entries.
Common DNS Record Types:
• A Record: Points your domain or subdomain to an IP address (for example, your server’s IP).
• MX Record: Directs incoming email to the correct mail server.
• CNAME Record: Creates an alias that points one domain to another (for example, www to your root domain).
• TXT Record: Used for SPF, DKIM, DMARC, and other verification purposes.
• AAAA Record: The IPv6 equivalent of an A record.
Adding a New DNS Record:
1. From the DNS Records page, click Add a record to this domain.
2. Choose the record type from the drop-down list (A, MX, CNAME, TXT, etc.).
3. Fill in the required details:
• Name: Enter the subdomain or “@” for the root domain.
• Value / Destination: IP address or hostname the record should point to.
• TTL (Time To Live): How long DNS servers should cache this record (default is fine for most cases).
4. Click Create to save the new record.
5. Your change will take effect immediately on the server, but global propagation may take up to a few hours.
Editing or Removing a Record:
• To edit, click the record’s name in the list, make your changes, and click Save.
• To delete, check the box beside a record and click Delete Selected.
• Be careful when removing A or MX records — deleting them can temporarily break your site or email delivery.
Tips for Common Uses:
• Add a TXT record with your SPF policy to improve email deliverability (for example, v=spf1 a mx ~all).
• Add CNAMEs for subdomains like shop or blog if they’re hosted externally.
• If using a third-party mail provider (like Google Workspace or Microsoft 365), replace the default MX records with those provided by your email host.
• Use low TTL values (300–600 seconds) while testing DNS changes so updates propagate faster.
Next Steps:
• Add SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records to improve domain reputation and email security.
• Continue to “Email Deliverability & Security” to learn about these authentication methods.
• Verify your DNS propagation using tools like dnschecker.org.
