- Impact
- 43
Registering DNS: How to get your own custom nameservers for free
This tutorial shows you how to set up your own branded
vanity nameservers under your own domain.
-> Why would you need branded vanity nameservers?
You can use them to increase your chances of selling your domain:
Many end-user sales come from people looking at the WHOIS entry
and listed there - among other things - are your nameservers.
If you can change those nameserver settings then you can put a
message there that says that your domain is for sale.
Some of the "big boys" in the domaining business use custom
nameservers that include the words "domain-for-sale" or something
similar and I'll show you how you can do that too.
=> IMPORTANT:
This will only work if all your "for sale" domains are using
the same nameservers as your main domain - ie your shop or blog.
If you use parking services the approach will possibly not work
as it is described.
This tutorial is provided "as-is". I assume no responsibility for
any financial loss or any other damages due to wrong domain settings.
I'll use GoDaddy as an example and while I know that they're not
everybody's favorite registrar I'm sure many others use similar
settings.
-> What to do:
1. Log in to your GoDaddy Domain Manager.
2. Select the domain you want to set up the nameservers for.
IMPORTANT: This is NOT the domain you want to sell, but your
main domain - ie of your domain shop, domain blog etc.
Lets say your main domain is "Example.com".
3. In the domain's settings take a look at the nameservers
your domain is pointing to - usually two or more.
Those could be your registrar's if you're using their web-
and email-forwarding or the ones from your hosting provider.
4. For each of those nameservers currently set for your domain
do the following:
4.1 Use your favorite web-based Whois tool - I'm not sure if I'm
allowed to link to it but I usually use the one from
VeriSign - and set the radio button below the search field to
"Nameserver".
4.2 Write down or copy the IP address listed for this nameserver.
4.3 Repeat getting the nameserver IP(s) for the remaining nameserver(s).
Be sure to set the radio button below the search field to
"Nameserver".
5. Got all IPs? Great - now we'll create your own nameservers:
In your GoDaddy domain panel scroll down to "Host Summary" and click "Add".
When using other registrar's this setting might be called
"Child Nameservers".
6. You only need to fill out the host name - ie the part without your
domain. As your first nameserver's host name you could for example
use "DOMAIN-IS-FOR-SALE-SEND-EMAIL-TO-INFO-AT" if you want people
to email you directly.
Prospective buyers searching for your "for sale" domains via Whois
would then see "DOMAIN-IS-FOR-SALE-SEND-EMAIL-TO-INFO-AT.EXAMPLE.COM"
as the nameserver (explained later).
Or if you want them to visit your website you could set something like
"DOMAIN-IS-FOR-SALE-AT-WWW" as the host name.
The Whois entry would then show "DOMAIN-IS-FOR-SALE-AT-WWW.EXAMPLE.COM".
7. Enter one IP - the one you noted down earlier for your original
first nameserver.
8. Click OK.
9. Create a new Host Entry - again by clicking "Add" and enter "NS1" as
the host name and the SAME IP you used in step 7, the IP of your
original first nameserver.
The "NS1" entry will later only be used for your main domain.
10. Create a new Host Entry - again by clicking "Add" and enter "NS2"
as the host name and the IP of your second original nameserver.
11. Depending on the system and registrar you now might have to wait a
few minutes for the settings to be applied.
GoDaddy sends out confirmation emails for these changes.
12. Again open your Domain Manager for your main domain.
13. Click "Nameservers" - "Set Nameservers".
14. Select "I have specific nameservers for my domains." and
enter "NS1.EXAMPLE.COM" as first and "NS2.EXAMPLE.COM" as second
nameserver, obviously replacing "EXAMPLE.COM" with your main
domain - ie your shop or blog.
15. Now you can continue with your "for sale" domains:
Open each domain's settings and set the first nameserver to "DOMAIN-
IS-FOR-SALE-SEND-EMAIL-TO-INFO-AT.EXAMPLE.COM" or "DOMAIN-IS-FOR-SALE-AT-
WWW.EXAMPLE.COM", depending on what you set up earlier.
Set the second nameserver to "NS2.EXAMPLE.COM" - of course again
making sure you replace "EXAMPLE.COM" with your main domain.
That's it - wait for the changes to be updated and you've got your
own registered nameservers.
Note: If you let your main domain (the one containing your own nameserver
subdomains) expire or change it then all your "for sale" domains will stop working.
Again: This tutorial is provided "as-is". I assume no responsibility for
any financial loss or any other damages due to wrong domain settings.
Have fun using your private nameservers
.
Greetings,
Georg
This tutorial shows you how to set up your own branded
vanity nameservers under your own domain.
-> Why would you need branded vanity nameservers?
You can use them to increase your chances of selling your domain:
Many end-user sales come from people looking at the WHOIS entry
and listed there - among other things - are your nameservers.
If you can change those nameserver settings then you can put a
message there that says that your domain is for sale.
Some of the "big boys" in the domaining business use custom
nameservers that include the words "domain-for-sale" or something
similar and I'll show you how you can do that too.
=> IMPORTANT:
This will only work if all your "for sale" domains are using
the same nameservers as your main domain - ie your shop or blog.
If you use parking services the approach will possibly not work
as it is described.
This tutorial is provided "as-is". I assume no responsibility for
any financial loss or any other damages due to wrong domain settings.
I'll use GoDaddy as an example and while I know that they're not
everybody's favorite registrar I'm sure many others use similar
settings.
-> What to do:
1. Log in to your GoDaddy Domain Manager.
2. Select the domain you want to set up the nameservers for.
IMPORTANT: This is NOT the domain you want to sell, but your
main domain - ie of your domain shop, domain blog etc.
Lets say your main domain is "Example.com".
3. In the domain's settings take a look at the nameservers
your domain is pointing to - usually two or more.
Those could be your registrar's if you're using their web-
and email-forwarding or the ones from your hosting provider.
4. For each of those nameservers currently set for your domain
do the following:
4.1 Use your favorite web-based Whois tool - I'm not sure if I'm
allowed to link to it but I usually use the one from
VeriSign - and set the radio button below the search field to
"Nameserver".
4.2 Write down or copy the IP address listed for this nameserver.
4.3 Repeat getting the nameserver IP(s) for the remaining nameserver(s).
Be sure to set the radio button below the search field to
"Nameserver".
5. Got all IPs? Great - now we'll create your own nameservers:
In your GoDaddy domain panel scroll down to "Host Summary" and click "Add".
When using other registrar's this setting might be called
"Child Nameservers".
6. You only need to fill out the host name - ie the part without your
domain. As your first nameserver's host name you could for example
use "DOMAIN-IS-FOR-SALE-SEND-EMAIL-TO-INFO-AT" if you want people
to email you directly.
Prospective buyers searching for your "for sale" domains via Whois
would then see "DOMAIN-IS-FOR-SALE-SEND-EMAIL-TO-INFO-AT.EXAMPLE.COM"
as the nameserver (explained later).
Or if you want them to visit your website you could set something like
"DOMAIN-IS-FOR-SALE-AT-WWW" as the host name.
The Whois entry would then show "DOMAIN-IS-FOR-SALE-AT-WWW.EXAMPLE.COM".
7. Enter one IP - the one you noted down earlier for your original
first nameserver.
8. Click OK.
9. Create a new Host Entry - again by clicking "Add" and enter "NS1" as
the host name and the SAME IP you used in step 7, the IP of your
original first nameserver.
The "NS1" entry will later only be used for your main domain.
10. Create a new Host Entry - again by clicking "Add" and enter "NS2"
as the host name and the IP of your second original nameserver.
11. Depending on the system and registrar you now might have to wait a
few minutes for the settings to be applied.
GoDaddy sends out confirmation emails for these changes.
12. Again open your Domain Manager for your main domain.
13. Click "Nameservers" - "Set Nameservers".
14. Select "I have specific nameservers for my domains." and
enter "NS1.EXAMPLE.COM" as first and "NS2.EXAMPLE.COM" as second
nameserver, obviously replacing "EXAMPLE.COM" with your main
domain - ie your shop or blog.
15. Now you can continue with your "for sale" domains:
Open each domain's settings and set the first nameserver to "DOMAIN-
IS-FOR-SALE-SEND-EMAIL-TO-INFO-AT.EXAMPLE.COM" or "DOMAIN-IS-FOR-SALE-AT-
WWW.EXAMPLE.COM", depending on what you set up earlier.
Set the second nameserver to "NS2.EXAMPLE.COM" - of course again
making sure you replace "EXAMPLE.COM" with your main domain.
That's it - wait for the changes to be updated and you've got your
own registered nameservers.
Note: If you let your main domain (the one containing your own nameserver
subdomains) expire or change it then all your "for sale" domains will stop working.
Again: This tutorial is provided "as-is". I assume no responsibility for
any financial loss or any other damages due to wrong domain settings.
Have fun using your private nameservers
.Greetings,
Georg
Last edited:
