Transfer your DNS hosting to Rackspace
Last updated on: 2018-10-25
Authored by: Rae D. Cabello
Rackspace enables you to manage your Domain Name Server (DNS) through our Cloud Control Panel while allowing you to keep your domain registered with your current hosting provider.
To ensure a seamless transition with minimal service interruption, you duplicate the DNS records from your current host into the Rackspace Cloud Control Panel before changing name servers.
Note: Because DNS changes can take up to 48 hours to resolve, we recommend that you make this switch during nonbusiness hours or when email activity is light. No email will be lost during this transition, but do not cancel your current DNS hosting service until the transfer is complete.
Transfer DNS hosting
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Log in to the Rackspace Cloud Control Panel
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In the top navigation bar, click Select a Product > Rackspace Cloud.
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Select Networking > Cloud DNS.
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On the Cloud DNS page, click Create Domain.
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In the pop-up dialog box, enter the domain that you are adding and an administrative email address that will be publicly associated with the domain. We recommend leaving the TTL at the default of 5 minutes. Then, click Create Domain.
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On the Domain Details page, duplicate the DNS records that exist on your original DNS host. By entering records with the same information, the name server change propagates, and end users get the same answer regardless of which DNS host they query. Complete the following steps for each record:
A. Click Add Record. B. Choose the record type, and then provide the information requested. C. Leave the TTL at the default of 5 minutes. D. Click Add Record.
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Log in to your domain registrar’s control panel, and change the name servers for your domain to:
- ns.rackspace.com
- ns2.rackspace.com
Following these steps initiates the process to switch DNS hosting to Rackspace, but the changes can take up to 48 hours to propagate. If you want to change any DNS records (such as moving an A record to point to your Rackspace Cloud Server), you must either make the change on both DNS hosts or wait until the changes have propagated worldwide.
Making these changes redirects all DNS queries to Rackspace but does not affect the registration of your domain. You must maintain your registration with the original registrar.
