This article provides a guide for how to setup custom name servers in WHM cPanel server. This guide requires root-level access to a cPanel VPS or cPanel dedicated server.

How to Setup Custom Name Servers in WHM

If you are setting up WHM basic configuration, see step 1. If you have already completed WHM basic configuration, and now would like to setup custom nameservers, see step 2.

1. The first time you log into WHM you will have to complete a 6 step basic configuration:

• Click on I agree/Go to Next Step 2.
• Enter your email address at Server Contact Email Address (user@domain.com).
• Make sure your VPS or dedicated server hostname is correctly configured at "Hostname" (configure a fully-qualified domain name for the hostname, something like vps.yourdomain.com or server.yourdomain.com).
• Click on Save & Go to Step 3 and after click on Go to Step 4.
• Enter the custom nameservers at "Nameserver 1" and "Nameserver 2" (ex. ns1.yourdomain.com and ns2.yourdomain.com).
• Check the box with Add "A Entries" for all Nameservers
• Enter your VPS or dedicated server main IP at ns1 and the second IP at ns2. You can see your allocated IPs in your Hosting Dashboard account or retrieve these from the Welcome Email.
• Check the box with Add "A Entries" for Hostname.
• Click on Save & Go to Step 5 and after this click on Save & Go to Step 6.
• Click on "Finish Setup Wizard".
• Go to WHM -> Server Configuration -> Tweak Settings and ensure "Enable WHOIS lookups for the nameserver IP manager" is set to "Off" (if this is setting is set to "On", assigning an ip to a nameserver can take a long time).
• Go to WHM -> Server Configuration -> Basic cPanel & WHM Setup -> Basic Config and enter your main IP of your VPS or dedicated server to "Shared Virtual Host IP" (first field).
• Go at the bottom of this page and make sure you have the correct nameservers entered at "Nameserver 1" and "Nameserver 2" then push the "Assign Ip Address" button for both the nameservers.
• Don't forget to add glue records for these nameservers at your registrar, from where you bought your domain.

You are done with the nameserver configuration, don't forget to update cPanel before adding production accounts on the VPS or dedicated server.

You can use the "Upgrade to Latest Version" button from WHM to make sure cPanel is up to date (WHM -> cPanel -> Upgrade to Latest Version).

2. If you already did the 6 steps basic configuration but you didn't set up custom nameservers, please follow the next steps:

• Go to "Tweak Settings" and ensure "Enable WHOIS lookups for the nameserver IP manager" is set to "Off" (if you don't do this, assigning an IP to a nameserver can take a long time).
• Make sure your VPS or dedicated server hostname is correctly configured at WHM -> Networking Setup -> Change Hostname -> Current Hostname (something like "vps.yourdomain.com" or "server.yourdomain.com")
• Go to WHM -> Server Configuration -> Basic cPanel & WHM Setup -> Basic Config and enter the main IP of your VPS or dedicated server into first field.
• Go at the bottom of this page and make sure you have the correct nameservers entered at "Nameserver 1" and "Nameserver 2" then push the "Assign IP Address" button for both the nameservers.
• Push the "Add an A entry for this nameserver" button for both the nameservers and Add Entry.
• Click Save Changes at the bottom of the page.
• Don't forget to add glue records for these nameservers at your registrar, from where you bought your domain.

You are done with the nameserver configuration, don't forget to update cPanel before adding production accounts on the VPS or dedicated server.

You can use the "Upgrade to Latest Version" button from WHM to make sure cPanel is up to date (WHM -> cPanel -> Upgrade to Latest Version).

Instructions for various registrars

Each set of instructions assumes that the following statements are true:

• You have an account with the registrar.
• You have already registered your domain with that company.
• You have logged in to your account and are on the first screen that you see after you log in.

123-reg.co.uk

To register with 123-reg.co.uk, perform the following steps:

1. Find and select the domain name for your nameserver (for example, select example.com if you wish to register ns1.example.com).
2. Click Modify domain.
3. Click Change Nameservers.
4. Scroll down and enter the names for your primary and secondary nameservers in the Nameserver 1 and Nameserver 2 text boxes (for example, ns1.example.com).
5. Click Change Nameservers.
6. Enter the IP addresses for your nameservers.
7. Click Change Nameservers.

DirectNIC

To register with DirectNIC, perform the following steps:

1. Click Domain Manager.
2. Click Change Nameserver Information next to your domain.
3. Click Create Nameserver at the top of the interface.
4. Enter your nameserver’s hostname (for example, ns1.example.com).
5. Enter the appropriate IP address.
6. Repeat steps 3 through 5 for your second nameserver.

Dotster

To register with Dotster, perform the following steps:

1. Click on My Domains at the top of the Account Management interface.
2. Click the domain for which you wish to register your nameservers.
3. Click Register Nameserver.
4. Enter the hostname (for example: ns1.example.com) for your first nameserver.
5. Enter the IP address for this nameserver in the four text boxes. You will need to enter each octet of your IP address in its respective text box.
6. Click Update.
7. Repeat steps 3 through 6 for your second nameserver.

DynaDot

To register with DynaDot, perform the following steps:

1. Click Domain Names on the right side of the interface.
2. Click Nameservers near the top of the interface.
3. Click Register a domain name server.
4. Enter the full name of your first nameserver (for example: ns1.example.com) in the Host Name text box.
5. Enter the IP address for that nameserver.
6. Click Submit.
7. Repeat steps 2 through 6 for your second nameserver.

Enom

To register with Enom, perform the following steps:

1. Click Select Domain Names.
2. Click Register DNS.
3. Use the Register a Nameserver Name feature in the first section of the interface to create your nameservers.

GoDaddy

To register with GoDaddy, perform the following steps:

1. Under the Domains heading, click All Domains.
2. Locate the domain for which you wish to set up your nameservers.
3. Click the gear icon and select Manage DNS.
4. Click the Settings tab.
5. Under the Host Names setting, click Manage.
6. Click Add Hostname.
7. Enter the primary nameserver’s name (for example, ns1) in the Hostname text box.
8. Enter the primary nameserver’s IP address in the IP Address text box.
9. Click Add.
10. Repeat steps 6-9 for your secondary nameserver (for example, ns2)
11. Click Save.
12. Click Edit Nameservers.
13. Select Custom.
14. Enter the full hostnames of your two nameservers. (for example, ns1.example.com and ns2.example.com)
15. Click OK.
16. Click Save.

The interface will process your request and then display a “Set Nameservers: Your request has been submitted. Changes may take a few moments to take effect.” message.

NameCheap

To register with NameCheap, perform the following steps:

1. Find the domain in your account and click on it.
2. Click Nameserver Registration.
3. Enter the IP addresses for each of your nameservers.
4. Click Add Nameservers.

Network Solutions

To register with Network Solutions, perform the following steps:

1. Click Manage Host Servers at the bottom left of the interface.
2. Enter your first nameserver’s hostname (for example, ns1.example.com) in the first text box.
3. Click Go.
4. Enter the IP address of your first nameserver.
5. Click Go.
6. Confirm the changes to the host server.
7. Click Save Changes.
8. Click Back to Account Manager Home.
9. Repeat this process for your second nameserver.

OpenSRS

To register with OpenSRS, perform the following steps:

1. Click Name Servers at the top of the interface.
2. Click Create or modify a name server which is based on…
3. Enter the name (for example: ns1) for your first nameserver.
4. Enter the nameserverʼs IP address.
5. Click Create Name Server.
6. Repeat steps 3 through 6 to add your second nameserver.

Register.com

To register with Register.com, perform the following steps:

1. Click on your domain name.
2. Click Advanced Technical Settings.
3. Click Manage Registered Name Servers.
4. Scroll down to REGISTER NAME SERVER and enter the desired prefix for the first nameserver (for example: ns1).
5. Enter the IP address (A record) in the next text box.
6. Click Continue.
7. Repeat this process for your second nameserver.

Conclusion

You now know how to setup custom name servers in WHM cPanel server.