DNS Management
DNS connects your domain name to your website and email. CCMS Hosting can manage DNS for you, or work with records hosted at your registrar.
Common Record Types
Most DNS changes involve a small set of record types:
- A record: points a name (yourdomain.com) to a server IP address
- CNAME record: points a name to another name (www to yourdomain.com)
- MX record: tells the world which server receives email for your domain
- TXT record: holds verification strings and email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC)
- NS record: declares which nameservers control the domain
If you are not sure which record a vendor is asking you to add, forward the instructions to support@ccmshightech.com and we will translate.
Pointing Your Domain to CCMS Hosting
There are two ways to connect your domain to your hosted site:
- Full DNS hosting: set your nameservers to the ones we provide, and we manage all records for you (recommended)
- Record-only pointing: keep DNS at your registrar and update the A record for your domain and www to our server IP
Full DNS hosting lets us handle SSL, email, and future changes without back-and-forth. We provide the exact nameservers or IP address during onboarding.
Propagation: Why Changes Take Time
DNS changes are not instant. Resolvers around the internet cache records for a period called the TTL (time to live):
- Most record changes take effect within minutes to a few hours
- Nameserver changes can take up to 24 to 48 hours to be visible everywhere
- Your own device may cache old answers; restarting the browser or flushing DNS can help
When we plan a migration, we lower TTLs in advance so the cutover happens quickly and downtime is minimized.
Common Changes: MX and TXT Records
The requests we see most often involve email:
- Switching email providers: update MX records to the new provider while leaving website records untouched
- Verifying a service: add the TXT record a vendor gives you (Google, Microsoft, mailing platforms) to prove domain ownership
- Email authentication: add or update SPF, DKIM, and DMARC TXT records when you add a new sending service
MX and TXT changes do not affect your website, and website A record changes do not affect email, as long as each set of records is edited carefully. This separation is exactly why we ask what you are trying to accomplish before making changes.
Requesting a DNS Change
If CCMS hosts your DNS, send change requests to our team:
- Email support@ccmshightech.com with the domain and the exact records to add or change
- Paste vendor instructions verbatim when possible to avoid transcription errors
- Tell us if the change is time-sensitive, such as a launch or provider cutover
Most routine record changes are completed the same business day. For urgent changes, call (954) 693-6422.
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Need Help?
DNS questions or change requests: support@ccmshightech.com or (954) 693-6422.
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