Domains and DNS

Domains registered with us use our nameservers automatically. For a domain registered elsewhere, change its nameservers at that company to ns1.lunida.net, ns2.lunida.net, ns3.lunida.net and ns4.lunida.net; if only two are allowed, use the first two.

Everything the domain still needs has to be in our DNS before the switch: MX records for mail that stays elsewhere, TXT records for verifications, CNAMEs for other services. Otherwise mail and those services stop. The control panel's Manage DNS has an Import Zone File button for a copy of the old records. If you are unsure, write to us before switching.

Usually 6 to 8 hours, at most about 48 hours, because networks keep the old answer for a while. A change of a single record in our DNS is seen everywhere within about an hour.

To see what your computer gets, run ping yourdomain.lk in a Command Prompt (Windows) or Terminal (macOS) and compare the address with the one the control panel shows for your hosting. Try it with and without www; each is cached on its own, so one can already work while the other still shows the old site. Restarting the router or using a public DNS resolver (8.8.8.8, 1.1.1.1) can help when your internet provider is slow to update.

In the control panel, Manage DNS: enter the Name (empty for the domain itself), the Type and the Data, then save.

• A: points a name to an IPv4 address; AAAA to an IPv6 address.
• CNAME: points a name to another name; only for subdomains, not for the domain itself.
• MX: the mail servers, lowest number first; one set per domain.
• TXT: verifications, SPF, DKIM, DMARC.
• SRV and CAA (which certificate authorities may issue SSL for the domain).

When a domain is added to a hosting package, its DNS is reset to our defaults for web and mail. Add your own records again afterwards.

Manage DNS, Preconfigured Settings, then "G Suite (E-mail only)" for mail only or "G Suite (All services)". The control panel shows the records before saving.

Add the TXT record Google gives you in Manage DNS, with the Name left empty. It is usually live within 2 minutes.

DNSSEC can be switched on in the control panel (DNSSEC Protection) for domains registered with us and using our nameservers. If DNSSEC is on at another registrar, switch it off there before moving the nameservers to us, or the domain stops working.

Write to us with the domain; we send the records for your website and mail.

In the control panel, Subdomains: enter the name and press Create Subdomain. Its Document Root sets which folder it shows, for example public_html/blog; a change there takes about 15 minutes. To rename a subdomain, create the new one with the same document root.

In the control panel, Domains, Add Domain; Make Primary makes it the main domain. The domain has to be registered and point to us to work.

In the control panel, Redirects: the source domain and the destination address. Choose 301 (permanent) when the new address replaces the old one, 302 (temporary) for a short time, for example while a new site is built. For www and non-www, whole domains or single pages, see redirects with .htaccess; for https see Force HTTPS.

The domain is not registered, uses nameservers elsewhere, has DNSSEC switched on, or its registry has put it on hold (a WHOIS lookup shows "clientHold", often for an unpaid renewal or a missing verification). Your site still works on its temporary URL meanwhile. If the domain is registered with us, write to us.

The name does not lead anywhere yet: the nameservers or the A record are wrong or missing, the domain has expired or is on hold, or a recent change is still spreading (see above).

A domain locked at another registrar (clientTransferProhibited) is unlocked there, by you or by that registrar. .com, .net, .org and similar domains cannot move for 60 days after registration, a transfer or a change of the owner's details; country domains follow their own registry's rules. Transfers to us, renewals and changes of domains registered with us: write to us.

Letters a-z, digits 0-9 and hyphens; no hyphen at the start or end, no spaces. Capital letters make no difference.

.lk and .com.lk domains are registered with the LK Domain Registry, which asks for documents. Write to us and we tell you what is needed and do it for you.