How to Add a Wildcard DNS Record

A wildcard DNS record allows you to direct all subdomains of a domain to a specific IP address or another domain, even if those subdomains haven't been explicitly created. This is useful for handling all possible subdomains or for simplifying DNS management.

Steps to Add a Wildcard DNS Record

Step 1: Access Your DNS Management Interface

a) Login to your hosting control panel: This could be cPanel, Plesk, or another DNS management tool provided by your cloud hosting service.

b) Navigate to the DNS settings: Locate the section where you can manage DNS records. This is often labeled as "DNS Zone Editor," "DNS Settings," or something similar.

Step 2: Create a New DNS Record

a) Add a new record: Look for an option to add a new DNS record.

b) Select the record type: Choose the type of DNS record you want to create. For a wildcard DNS, this is typically an "A" record (for pointing subdomains to an IP address) or a "CNAME" record (for pointing subdomains to another domain).

Step 3: Enter the Wildcard Subdomain

a) Enter the wildcard: In the domain name field, enter * (asterisk) as the subdomain. This tells the DNS system that the record applies to all subdomains.

For example, if your domain is example.com, enter *.example.com for the wildcard entry.

Step 4: Specify the Target

a) For an A record: Enter the IP address to which all subdomains should resolve.

Example: *.example.com -> 192.0.2.1

b) For a CNAME record: Enter the domain to which all subdomains should redirect.

Example: *.example.com -> www.example.com

Step 5: Save the Record

a) Save or apply the changes: Once you've entered the details, save the record.

b) Check for any warnings or errors: Make sure there are no issues with the newly created record.

Step 6: Verify the Wildcard Record

a) Test the wildcard DNS: After adding the record, it may take a few minutes to propagate. Test by visiting any random subdomain (e.g., test.example.com) in your browser or using a DNS lookup tool to see if it resolves correctly.

Common Use Cases for Wildcard DNS

a) Catch-All Subdomains: Directing all subdomains to a single IP or domain, which is useful if you don’t want to create individual DNS records for each subdomain.

b) Dynamic Subdomains: If your application generates subdomains on the fly, a wildcard DNS record will automatically handle them.

c) Simplifying DNS Management: By using a wildcard record, you avoid the need to manually add DNS entries for every new subdomain.

Troubleshooting

a) Propagation Delays: It may take up to 48 hours for DNS changes to propagate fully across the internet.

b) Conflicts with Existing Records: If a specific subdomain has its own DNS record, it will override the wildcard record. Ensure there are no conflicting records if the wildcard isn’t working as expected.

By following these steps, you can easily add a wildcard DNS record, ensuring all subdomains of your domain are correctly routed to your desired destination.