Setting Up Plesk as a Name Server
In this article, we'll show you one of the methods available for setting up Plesk as a custom name server in the IONOS Cloud Panel.
The method explained in this guide, which was created using Plesk Obsidian 18.0.44 (Update #3), uses the Cloud Panel DNS.
Please Note
In order to avoid any downtime when changing your name servers, make sure your domain's DNS is already connected to Plesk. For more help, please see the appropriate article below:
Setting Up a Domain for Your Linux Server Using Plesk (First Login to Plesk)
Setting Up a Domain for Your Linux Server Using Plesk (Plesk Already Configured)
Guided Steps
First, you will need to find out the Host and DNS Host Name for your server and edit your server's firewall configuration. If you have not yet created a firewall policy, please see the following article:
- Log in to the Cloud Panel. If you have multiple contracts or servers, select the desired contract and server.
- You should be in the Infrastructure > Servers section of the Cloud Panel. Scroll down to the Features section and make a note of the values next to the Host and DNS Host Name rows.
- Next, go to the Network > Firewall Policies section in the Cloud Panel menu on the left.
- If it is not already added to your firewall policy, allow port 53 for TCP/UDP connections in your server's firewall configuration. Make sure you click the green check button to add the new rule as shown below.
Editing Your Domain's Name Servers in Your IONOS Account
- Use this link to go to your domain's name server details in your IONOS account. Alternatively, you can edit your name servers through the Domains & SSL section of your IONOS account by clicking the gear icon next to the desired domain and selecting Name Servers.
- Click the Use custom name servers button.
- In the Name Server 1 field, add the name server ns1.example.com, replacing example.com with your domain name.
- In the IPv4 address field that appears, add the Host value found in the Cloud Panel from Step 2 in the previous section.
- Optional: Add your IPv6 address to the IPv6 address field.
- In the Name Server 2 field, add the DNS Host Name value found in the Cloud Panel from Step 2 in the previous section.
- Click Save.
Editing Your Name Servers in Plesk
- Log in to Plesk.
- If you are in the Service Provider View, go to the Domains section in the left side navigation and click your domain name.
If you are in the Power User View, go to the Websites & Domains section in the left side navigation and select the desired domain name if it is not already opened. - Go to the Hosting & DNS tab and click DNS Settings.
- By default, Plesk creates two NS values for your domain (ns1.example.com and ns2.example.com). Click on your domain name in the Host column in the row with the ns2 value.
- In the Name server field, add the DNS Host Name you added for the Name Server 2 field in your IONOS account previously.
- Click OK.
- A message will appear at the top of the DNS Settings page notifying you that the DNS changes have not been saved. Click the Update button within this message.
- Linux servers only: Finally, another message will appear warning you that the DNS zone was modified. Click the Apply DNS Template button below this message to apply the changes to the DNS zone.
Additional Information
If you would like to use Plesk as a name server for more domains, you can simply repeat the steps in this guide using the other domains. The DNS Host Name value used for the Name Server 2 fields will remain the same.
Your domain and Plesk have now been configured to use Plesk as a name server. Please allow up to 24-48 hours for the name server changes to propagate and take effect.
If you would like to check the progress of these DNS changes, you can use online tools such as this DNS Progagation Checker to do so.
For additional information on setting up Plesk as a name server, please see this Plesk blog.