How to Manage DNS Records in Plesk?

Managing DNS data in Plesk allows you to govern how your domain name is resolved and where it points. Whether you want to set up email routing, point your area to a brand new server, or control subdomains, Plesk provides an intuitive interface to handle DNS configurations. 

Follow these steps to manage DNS records in Plesk:

1. Access Your Plesk Control Panel

a) Log in to your Plesk control panel using your credentials.

b) Navigate to the "Websites & Domains" section at the left-hand of the dashboard.

2. Open DNS Settings

a) In the "Websites & Domains" section, locate the domain for which you want to manage DNS records.

b) Click on "DNS Settings" under the domain name. This will open the DNS management page for the selected domain.

3. Understanding DNS Records

Before making any changes, it’s important to understand the types of DNS records you might encounter:

a) A Record: Points a domain or subdomain to an IP address.

b) CNAME Record: Alias for one domain to another domain (used for subdomains).

c) MX Record: Directs email to mail servers for the domain.

d) TXT Record: Used for various purposes, including domain ownership verification and email security settings.

e) NS Record: Specifies the nameservers for the domain.

f) AAAA Record: Points a domain or subdomain to an IPv6 address.

g) SRV Record: Defines services and protocols for specific resources.

4. Adding a New DNS Record

a) Click on "Add Record" to create a new DNS entry.

b) Select the type of record you want to create from the dropdown menu.

c) Fill in the required details:

1. Record type: Choose the appropriate type (e.g., A, CNAME, MX).

2. Domain name: Enter the subdomain or leave it blank for the main domain.

3. IP address/Target: Enter the IP address or the target domain name, depending on the record type.

4. Priority (for MX records): Set the priority for the mail server (lower numbers indicate higher priority).

5. TTL (Time to Live): Set how long the record is cached before it’s updated (default is usually fine).

d) Click "OK" or "Save" to add the record.

5. Editing an Existing DNS Record

a) In the DNS Settings page, you will see a list of existing DNS records.

b) Locate the record you want to modify and click on its name or value to edit it.

c) Make the necessary changes (e.g., update the IP address or target).

d) Click "OK" or "Save" to apply the changes.

6. Removing a DNS Record

a) To delete a DNS record, check the box next to the record you wish to remove.

b) Click the "Remove" button at the top of the DNS records list.

c) Confirm the deletion when prompted.

7. Apply DNS Template (Optional)

a) If you want to reset or apply a DNS template to your domain, click on "Apply DNS Template".

b) This will overwrite existing records with the default template settings for the domain.

8. Synchronize DNS Records (Optional)

a) If your domain is using external nameservers, you might need to synchronize DNS settings.

b) Click "Synchronize DNS Records" to push changes to external servers if your setup requires it.

9. Check DNS Propagation

a) After making adjustments, it could take up to 48 hours for DNS modifications to propagate at some stage in the internet.

b) Use online DNS propagation tools to confirm if the changes have been updated globally.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

a) Incorrect IP Address: Ensure that A or AAAA data point to the proper IP cope with.

b) Email Delivery Problems: Verify that MX records are correctly set up with the right priority and target.

c) DNS Not Resolving: Check that NS records are pointing to the correct nameservers and that these nameservers are configured properly.

Additional Tips

a) Backup DNS Records: Before making significant changes, consider exporting your DNS settings as a backup.

b) Monitor Changes: Keep track of changes you make, especially when dealing with multiple DNS records, to troubleshoot any issues that arise.

c) Custom TTL Values: For frequently changing records, you may want to reduce the TTL temporarily to speed up propagation.

By following those steps, you may correctly control DNS information in Plesk, making sure that your domain is effectively pointed to the right sources and that services like email and subdomains are functioning as anticipated.