Overview
Nameservers determine which DNS provider is authoritative for your domain.
When you register a domain and connect it to hosting, it is important to understand whether your domain is using Prabhu Host nameservers or custom/third-party nameservers.
This determines where you should manage your DNS records.
What Are Nameservers?
Nameservers tell the internet which DNS servers contain the authoritative DNS records for your domain.
For example:
example.com
↓
Nameservers
↓
DNS Zone
↓
A / CNAME / MX / TXT records
The DNS records stored on the authoritative nameservers are the records that are publicly used.
Using Prabhu Host Nameservers
If your domain is configured to use the nameservers provided for Prabhu Host hosting service, the DNS zone associated with that hosting service is responsible for your domain's DNS records.
In this situation, DNS records can generally be managed through the DNS management tools provided with Prabhu Host hosting account.
For example, you may manage records such as:
-
A
-
CNAME
-
MX
-
TXT
-
SRV
Example
Domain
↓
Prabhu Host Nameservers
↓
Prabhu Host DNS Zone
↓
Website / Email / Other Services
Important: Use the exact nameservers provided for your hosting service. Nameservers can differ between hosting platforms, so do not assume that a particular nameserver applies to every Prabhu Host server.
Using Custom or Third-Party Nameservers
A domain can also use nameservers provided by another DNS provider.
Examples include:
-
Cloudflare
-
Amazon Route 53
-
Another hosting provider
-
A third-party DNS management service
For example:
Domain
↓
Cloudflare Nameservers
↓
Cloudflare DNS Zone
↓
Website / Email / Other Services
In this case, DNS records must be managed through the provider whose nameservers the domain is actually using.
Why DNS Records May Not Work When Using Custom Nameservers
A common issue occurs when a customer adds a DNS record in the Prabhu Host DNS panel while the domain is using completely different nameservers.
For example:
The customer adds:
customs.example.com → 13.207.95.102
in the Prabhu Host DNS panel.
However, the domain is actually using:
ns1.thirdparty-dns.com
ns2.thirdparty-dns.com
The record added in the Prabhu Host DNS panel will not become authoritative because the internet is querying the third-party nameservers.
The customer must instead add the record through the DNS provider currently hosting the authoritative DNS zone.
How to Check Which Nameservers Your Domain Uses
You can check the nameservers configured for your domain using:
dig NS example.com
You can also use an online DNS lookup tool to check the domain's NS records.
The returned nameservers indicate which DNS provider is authoritative for the domain.
Important: Nameservers and DNS Records Are Different
If You Want to Manage DNS Through Prabhu Host
If you want to manage your domain's DNS records through the DNS management system associated with your Prabhu Host hosting service:
-
Check the nameservers assigned to your hosting account.
-
Update your domain's nameservers to the appropriate Prabhu Host nameservers.
-
Allow time for the nameserver change to propagate.
Before changing nameservers: If your domain already has a working website, email service, or other DNS-dependent services, make sure the required DNS records are available on the new DNS provider before switching nameservers.
If You Want to Keep Custom Nameservers
You do not need to switch to Prabhu Host nameservers if you intentionally use another DNS provider.
For example, if your domain uses Cloudflare nameservers, continue managing DNS records through Cloudflare.
In this setup:
Domain
↓
Cloudflare
↓
DNS Records
↓
Prabhu Host Server
The domain can still point to a Prabhu Host server while Cloudflare remains responsible for DNS management.
Common Clients Questions
"I added an A record in cPanel, but it is not working."
First check the domain's nameservers.
If the domain is using custom nameservers, the record may need to be added at the current DNS provider instead.
"Can I use Cloudflare with Prabhu Host hosting?"
Yes. Cloudflare can manage your domain's DNS while your website remains hosted on Prabhu Host.
"Do I need to change nameservers to use Prabhu Host hosting?"
Not necessarily in every setup. If you are using a third-party DNS provider, you can generally keep those nameservers and point the required DNS records to your Prabhu Host hosting server.
"Where should I add my DNS record?"
Add it wherever your domain's authoritative DNS is managed.
Need Help?
If you are unsure where your domain's DNS is currently managed, contact Prabhu Host Support with your domain name. We can help determine which nameservers are active and where the DNS records should be configured.
