# Domain name and DNS

Your site and your mail answer at your domain name as soon as it points to your server. There are two ways to do this: entrust the domain's DNS to your server, which we recommend, or keep your DNS elsewhere and add your hosting's records there.

## Using the name servers of your server

At your domain's registrar, replace its name servers with those of your server:

| Name server   | Example, on web1         |
| ------------- | ------------------------ |
| **primary**   | `ns1.web1.simafri.cloud` |
| **secondary** | `ns2.web1.simafri.cloud` |

The name servers of each server are in [Your servers](/en/hebergement-web/serveurs.md). Your domain is managed by Simafri? Write to support: our team sets these name servers for you.

Once the change has propagated, usually within a few hours, everything falls into place by itself: your site answers, your mail arrives, the HTTPS certificate is obtained, and the **SPF** and **DKIM** records for your mail are published.

## Managing your DNS records

In the panel, **Account Manager**, then **DNS Management**:

1. Choose the domain.
2. Add, edit or delete its records: `A`, `AAAA`, `CNAME`, `MX`, `TXT`, `SRV`, `CAA`.
3. Save: the change is served straight away by your name servers, then reaches resolvers as their cache expires.

Common examples:

* **verifying your domain** with Google Search Console or another service: a `TXT` record at the root of the domain, with the value provided by the service;
* **a subdomain pointing to another service**: a `CNAME`, for example `shop` to the address provided by your platform;
* **mail with another provider**, Simafri Suite for example: the `MX`, SPF and DKIM records that provider gives you, in place of the hosting's.

## Your domain keeps its DNS elsewhere

Leave the name servers as they are, and add your server's records at your DNS host (its addresses are listed in [Your servers](/en/hebergement-web/serveurs.md)):

| Name           | Type                | Value, on web1                                                    |
| -------------- | ------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `@`            | `A`                 | `51.255.141.125`                                                  |
| `@`            | `AAAA`              | `2001:41d0:306:1eba::200`                                         |
| `www`          | `CNAME`             | your domain, for example `your-domain.com.`                       |
| `@`            | `MX`, priority `10` | `web1.simafri.cloud.`, if your email addresses are on the hosting |
| `@`            | `TXT`               | `v=spf1 a mx a:web1.simafri.cloud ~all`                           |
| `x._domainkey` | `TXT`               | your domain's DKIM value, to copy from **DNS Management**         |

Your HTTPS certificate is obtained as soon as the domain and `www` point to your server.

## Frequently asked questions

### How long does a name server change take?

A few hours in most cases, and up to 48 hours depending on the extensions and the resolvers. Your previous hosting keeps serving in the meantime: keep it open until the switch is complete.

### A change made in DNS Management is not visible.

First check that your domain does use the name servers of your server: the command `nslookup -type=ns your-domain.com` shows them. A changed record can stay cached at your internet provider until the end of its time to live (TTL). If the question remains, write to support stating the domain and the record: our team looks into it with you.

### Where do I renew my domain name?

A domain taken with Simafri, including the one offered with your plan, renews from the **Domains** section of your client area (see [Your domain names](https://docs.simafri.com/en/espace-client/domaines/)).