BYO Domain Instructions

These instructions outline how to use Shock if you already have a domain name purchased from a different domain registrar. Unfortunately it is quite technical so if you are not familiar with DNS then we’d suggest you find someone who can help you.

The summary gives you an overview and details you can pass onto a technical person.

The instructions give a step by step guide, however every domain name control panel is slightly different.

Summary

Our instructions are generic as every domain registrar has a slightly different interface and method of updating domain name (DNS) records. Here is an overview of what you’ll need to do.

  1. Login to where you currently have your website domain registered.
  2. Locate the DNS management interface.
  3. Update a DNS entry to point your domain name to the n8 servers.
  4. Add your domain name in Shock.

If you can ask your Domain Registrar or a technical person to do this for you, then the details are as follows (replacing each example.com with your domain name):

Host name Record Type Value
example.com A 3.104.88.89
www.example.com CNAME example.com

Instructions

PLEASE NOTE: If you make incorrect changes to your DNS records then you could stop things working, like your email being received. So be careful and/or enlist the help of someone who has done this before. If you already have a website then these changes will stop your existing website being found and instead your Shock website will be seen.

  1. Log in to your domain name registrar control panel

    1. You would have received a username and password when you purchased your domain name.

  2. Locate the DNS management interface & take a screenshot.

    1. This interface allows you to enter sub-domains, instructions for email servers and websites.
    2. The DNS will list a number of "zone records" which you can add to, modify and delete.
    3. Be sure you record your current records before making changes (e.g. take a screenshot) so you can restore it if things break.

  3. Add or change the A-Record.

    1. An A-Record type should already exist in the list.
    2. Add or change it to the following (where example.com is replaced with your domain name):
    Host name Record Type Value
    example.com A 3.104.88.89

  4. Add or change the CNAME-Record.

    1. A CNAME-Record type might already exist in the list.
    2. Add or change it to the following (where example.com is replaced with your domain name):
    Host name Record Type Value
    www.example.com CNAME example.com

It may take 24-48 hours for your changes to be applied.

Support Note

Unfortunately we cannot make these changes for you. If you’re having trouble, we suggest you contact your domain registrar and tell them with a smile, “I’d like to change my DNS records to point to a new website hosting company, please help me”. If you are still not getting anywhere then let us know and we’ll do our best to point you in the right direction.