How to Change Your Domain Nameservers

Changing Domain Nameservers

Nameservers control where your domain's DNS is managed. Changing them is necessary when you want to move your DNS management to a different provider, such as SillyHost or Cloudflare.

How to Update Nameservers

1. Log in to your SillyHost client area at sillyhost.co.uk/portal.
2. Go to Domains > My Domains and click on the domain you want to update.
3. Select the Nameservers tab.
4. Choose Custom Nameservers (if you want to use third-party nameservers) or Default Nameservers (to use SillyHost's nameservers).
5. Enter the new nameserver addresses. You typically need at least two:
   • Primary: ns1.example.com
   • Secondary: ns2.example.com
6. Click Save Changes.

Common Nameserver Configurations

• SillyHost Default: ns1.sillyhost.co.uk and ns2.sillyhost.co.uk
• Cloudflare: Provided in your Cloudflare dashboard when you add your domain (e.g., anna.ns.cloudflare.com and bob.ns.cloudflare.com).

Propagation Time

After changing nameservers, the update needs to propagate across the global DNS network. This process typically takes 1 to 48 hours, though most changes take effect within a few hours. During propagation, some visitors may reach the old server while others reach the new one.

Important Warnings

• Changing nameservers will affect all DNS records for the domain, including website, email, and any subdomains.
• Before switching, ensure all necessary DNS records are configured at the new nameserver provider.
• If you are switching to Cloudflare, add your domain to Cloudflare first and replicate your DNS records before changing the nameservers.