Understanding DNS Settings and Records
When setting up your PhotoBiz website or email, you may need to make updates to your domain’s DNS settings. DNS (Domain Name System) is what connects your domain name to your website and email.
This guide explains the most common DNS terms and how they work together to make sure your website and email function properly.
What is DNS?
DNS stands for Domain Name System. It acts like an address book for the internet. It tells web browsers and email servers where to find your website and where to send your email.
When you type a domain name (like yourstudio.com) into a browser, DNS translates that name into the correct IP address so your website loads.
Common DNS Terms and Definitions
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A Record:
Points your domain to the IP address where your website is hosted.
Example: An A Record might point yourstudio.com to 104.26.3.2. -
CNAME Record:
Points a subdomain (like www) to another domain name.
Example: A CNAME might point www.yourstudio.com to yourstudio.com. -
MX Record:
Stands for Mail Exchange. These records direct email sent to your domain to the correct mail server.
Example: If you use PhotoBiz Mailbox, your MX records will point to Rackspace's mail servers. -
TXT Record:
Text records are often used for domain verification or email authentication, such as SPF, DKIM, and DMARC.
Example: A TXT record may verify ownership for Google or Facebook Business. -
Nameservers:
Nameservers store and manage all of your domain’s DNS records.
Example: If your nameservers are set to PhotoBiz, your DNS records are managed inside your PhotoBiz account. -
TTL (Time To Live):
TTL determines how long it takes for DNS changes to update across the internet.
Example: A TTL of 3600 means changes may take up to one hour to take effect.
When You Might Need to Update DNS
You may need to update your DNS settings if you are:
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Verifying your domain with a 3rd party marketing service (Mailchimp, Contact Contact, Go High Level, etc.).
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Setting up a third-party email service (like Google Workspace or Microsoft 365).
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Verifying your domain with a service such as Facebook, Meta, or Google Search Console.
Where to Access DNS Settings
You can access DNS settings at the company where your domain is registered.
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If you’re using PhotoBiz 9 and your nameservers are pointed to our servers at AWS, you can manage DNS settings directly from your PhotoBiz control panel.
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If you’re using our legacy nameservers at Rackspace and prefer to manage your DNS settings yourself, you can upgrade your nameservers to AWS at any time. For DNS changes on Rackspace, please contact PhotoBiz Support or submit a support ticket with your request.
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If your domain nameservers are not pointed to PhotoBiz and you manage them elsewhere (like GoDaddy, Namecheap, etc.), you’ll need to log in to that account to make updates.
