Once you have registered a domain and set up hosting, the two need to be connected so that visitors who type your domain actually land on your website. This step is called “pointing” your domain, and there are two common ways to do it: changing your nameservers or editing your DNS A record. Choosing the right method depends on where your domain is registered and how much control you want. This guide explains both clearly.
Understanding the two methods #
Both methods achieve the same goal, but they work at different levels. Changing your nameservers hands the entire management of your domain’s DNS over to Disoh, which is the simplest option for most people. Editing an A record instead keeps DNS management wherever it is now and only redirects the website portion to your Disoh server. In short:
- Nameservers: point everything (website, email, subdomains) to Disoh and manage it all in one place.
- A record: point only your website’s traffic to your Disoh server’s IP address, while keeping DNS elsewhere.
For most customers, updating the nameservers is the recommended route because it avoids juggling settings across two providers.
Option 1: Change your nameservers (recommended) #
If your domain is registered somewhere other than Disoh, log in to that registrar and look for the nameserver or DNS settings. Then:
- Replace the existing nameservers with the Disoh nameservers shown in your welcome email or account panel.
- Save the changes.
- Wait for propagation, which usually completes within a few hours but can take up to 24-48 hours.
After propagation, your website, email, and any subdomains are all managed from your Disoh control panel.
Option 2: Update the A record #
If you prefer to keep DNS with your current provider, you can point just the website by editing the A record. In your DNS provider’s zone settings:
- Find the A record for your root domain (often shown as “@”).
- Change its value to the server IP address provided by Disoh.
- Update the “www” record too, either as a second A record or a CNAME pointing to your root domain.
- Save and allow time for propagation.
Keep in mind that with this method your email and other services stay wherever their DNS records currently point, so you will need to manage those separately.
How to confirm it worked #
After the changes propagate, open your domain in a browser and confirm your Disoh site loads. You can also use an online DNS lookup tool to check that the nameservers or A record now show the correct values. Because propagation is gradual, it is normal for the change to appear for some visitors before others.
Troubleshooting #
- Site still shows the old host: propagation may not be complete, so wait a little longer and clear your browser cache.
- Email stopped working after an A-record change: confirm your MX records are still correct.
- Not sure which IP or nameservers to use: check your Disoh welcome email or ask support.
Need help? #
If you are unsure which method fits your setup, our support team can look at your domain and recommend the safest option over live chat.
