DNS records explained

DNS is the address book of the internet. Connecting a domain means adding an entry to that address book which says: when someone asks for this name, send them to Delrity.

The records you will add

• A routing record. This is what actually sends visitors to your website. For a root domain such as yourbusiness.co.za it is an A record, because a root domain cannot use a CNAME. For a www or other sub-domain it is a CNAME.
• Sometimes an ownership record - a TXT value we ask you to add so your provider can confirm you really control the domain.

The Domains page shows you the exact type, name, value and TTL for each one. Copy and paste rather than retyping - a single wrong character is the most common reason verification fails. The values belong to your domain, so use the ones on your Domains page rather than values from another site or an old guide.

Where to add them

Wherever your domain's DNS is managed. That is usually the registrar you bought it from, but if you have moved DNS to another provider it is that provider instead. Look for a section called DNS, Name servers, Zone editor or Advanced DNS.

How long it takes

• Often minutes.
• Occasionally a few hours, depending on your provider.
• If verification does not succeed straight away, wait and try again rather than adding a second set of records.