How do I setup my DNS before transferring my domain to Ecenica?

How do I avoid downtime when I transfer my domain?

In this article we’ll run through some key steps you’ll want to take to prepare your domain before transferring it. This process will help you avoid unnecessary downtime when transferring your domain and make it as quick and as easy as possible.

1. Add the domain to your Ecenica service

First step is to setup your domain name on on Ecenica. To add the domain you’ll need either:

2. Configure DNS records for your domain

Now you’ve added your domain you can copy your DNS records across.

Add the DNS records using the Advanced DNS Editor tool.

3. Test your DNS records

Check your new DNS records are setup ok using the dig or nslookup commands. This is an optional step.

Windows

  1. Click Start
  2. Type cmd
  3. Click Command Prompt
  4. Enter the following command, replacing www.example.com with your domain
    nslookup WWW.EXAMPLE.COM ns1.ecenica.com
  5. Press Enter

nslookup will show a response similar to the following:

Server: UnKnown
Address: 10.11.12.13

Name: example.com
Address: 11.22.33.44
Aliases: www.example.com

Check the highlighted address section matches your old DNS settings. If they match then you are good to go.

Test email (MX Records) using the following command:

nslookup -query=mx EXAMPLE.COM ns1.ecenica.com

Mac

  1. Press cmd + space
  2. Type terminal
  3. Click terminal
  4. Enter the following command, replacing www.example.com with your domain
    dig www.example.com @ns1.ecenica.com
  5. Press Enter

dig will show a response similar to the following:

;; QUESTION SECTION:
;www.example.com. IN A

;; ANSWER SECTION:
www.example.com. 14400 IN CNAME example.com.
example.com. 14400 IN A 11.22.33.44

Check the highlighted answer section matches your old DNS settings. If they match then you are good to go.

Test email (MX Records) using the following command:

shell
dig MX example.com @ns1.ecenica.com

4. Change your domain’s name servers

Once you’ve created and checked all your DNS records you can point your domain at Ecenica names servers. by changing your domain’s name servers at your current domain registrar.

If you have a Ecenica Reseller Hosting or Managed VPS then you can alternatively use your custom branded name servers we include free with each service.

It can take 24 to 48 hours for the changes to your domain’s name servers to come into effect. Some domain registrars can take longer.

5. Transfer your domain to Ecenica

Once you are happy your DNS is setup and pointing to your Ecenica name servers you can transfer your domain to Ecenica without downtime.