Settings DNS records with Hosting company or Registrar

Question

This has always got me.

I change the nameservers with the registrar and then have the option to set up the other DNS records (a ,cname, mx) with EITHER the registrar or hosting company.

Which is best? Why do you have the choice? I normally use just the hosting company and set them there.

Can someone decide where this goes and move it? – ssaltman Mar 06 '17 at 14:01 — ssaltman, Mar 06 '17 at 14:01

score 3 · Answer 1 · answered Dec 22 '11 at 14:26

3

It depends on:

the features your hosting company give to you
the features you may get elsewhere
the features you need

What features does your domain name need ?

Full disclaimer: I develop https://entrydns.net/ in my free time with a sysadmin friend, a free DNS management service

answered Dec 22 '11 at 14:26

clyfe

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Just need the standard cname,a,txt,etc settings. I can set these all up fine I just wondered which option is best. – Stephen Adrian Rathbone Dec 22 '11 at 15:23
Usually paid services offer extra features like Anycast, DNSSEC - maybe if you need those. Some large websites need really fast resolving. – clyfe Dec 22 '11 at 18:46

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Dec 22 '11 at 15:12

Stick with your registrar UNLESS:

You are a sadist and wish to run your own bind servers.
You need to have reverse PTR records setup (not likely unless you use your own mail servers, which you shouldn't by the way. Use Google Apps or Postmark)
You are running an application which requires load balancing or some sort of special DNS service like round robin. (Not likely, put pound or apache in front of it)
You need a lower TTL (time-to-live) on your records then the registrar service provides.
You make frequent updates for numerous subdomains/records and need a powerful/faster tool then the registrar's.

I find that most registrar's have a slightly less than acceptable DNS management tool. However, that grating experience only happens once or twice a year, most times.

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Dec 22 '11 at 14:58

i would recommend changing the dns in the domain control panel i mean with the registrar. If you want to link your domain with a hosting accounts then you have update whether the nameservers or A/MX records in the domain control panel.

if you are puchasing hosting account with two different providers for example say one is for email and the other for files. In this case, you need to update the nameservers for a hosting and A/MX records for another. So if you add these records using your registrar it will be a one step solution instead adding with the hosting.

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Dec 22 '11 at 15:21

the most flexible solution (in my opinion) is to host your DNS settings on neutral ground. this way you stay in control 100%.

this means:

set the nameserver(s) to where you host your DNS records (the "neutral" ground)
where you host your DNS records: configure your DNS records as you like

Settings DNS records with Hosting company or Registrar

4 Answers4