How to setup & use name servers in PowerPanel

PowerPanel supports a few methods to manage your domains and name server settings. If you have connected your name servers to PowerPanel your users can manage the dns zone files for their own domains. PowerPanel needs to know how to setup new domains, so you need to setup this configuration. In this article we explain the options and how you can use this. 

Note: The admin can have disable DNS plugin and domain settings for his resellers. So if the options are not available when you have Reseller permissions, please contact you admin / vendor for support.

Which options does PowerPanel support?

PowerPanel supports three options:

• Manage by the system
• Use my supplier settings
• Custom name servers

We will explain the behavior option by option and how to use them. Make sure you are able to login to PowerPanel. If you don't have an account you can create an account here. If you need help to login to PowerPanel, please read how to login here.

Option 1) Manage by the system

This is the most complex setup, but also the most commonly used. First you need to make sure you have setup a DNS plugin.

Please read one of the below articles if you don't have the DNS plugin setup yet:

• PowerPanel: Plugin setup (DNS)
• Openprovider: Plugin setup (DNS)

Now go to System --> Settings --> Domain settings.

Select the option "Manage by the system" if no selection has been made yet. Now you have a few options.

Choose the default DNS plugin: If you have more than one plugins enabled, you need to set one plugin to default. This is helpful if you want to migrate to another system. (This option is not available if you have only one plugin enabled).

Set your default name server set: This is de name server set to use by default. Requesting or transfering domains will use this name server set (if the customer chooses to use vendor default).

SOA-record fields: Please change this only if you know what you are doing. Change the contact email if you prefer.

Activate name server set: If you want to create name server aliases (using your own hostnames) click this button to activate your unique set to the name servers. 

Allow my customers & reseller to use these settings: If you enable this your resellers have the option to use your name servers to register domains. They also get the option "Use my supplier settings" in this setup screen.

Allow name server registration: If you enable this option your reseller has the option to register white label name servers.  

Also you have to setup your default DNS master template. Read here about this options and how to use this.

Option 2) Use my supplier settings

If you select this option the name server details of your vendor will be displayed so the reseller. This is the only setup option they have. Now your customer will request domains and PowerPanel will use this setup included in the domain request.

Option 3) Custom name servers

In some cases you could have name servers that are not connected to PowerPanel or you might need another setup. In this case you can choose this option. DNS zone management will be switched off for your customers, because PowerPanel can not access and therefore not manage the dns zone. Requesting domains will use this name server set. But you need to make sure you add the requested domains to your own / other DNS system. 

Set your default name server set: This is de name server set to use by default. Requesting or transfer domains will use this name server set (if the customer choose to use vendor default).

Enable DNSSec support: If your external name servers have DNSSec support you can enable this options. You can setup the DNSSec keys for your domains in PowerPanel. Keep in mind PowerPanel can not control your name servers, so you have to create your own key and paste it into PowerPanel to setup.

Cool, I have setup name server configuration, but how do I use this?

If one of your customers are request a new domain (or want to transfer) the need to make a choice for the name server setup.

The default option has selected by default. To help your customer choose.

The customer can always choose not to use the default name server set. In this case the customer can choose another set, or add a new set. 

Note: If the customer chooses this option, DNS zone will not enabled, simple because PowerPanel can not manage DNS system other then the default setup.

Managing name servers for existing domains.

Find one of your domains and scroll down to the section Domain settings. There you see the current name server settings. In the example below notice the red bar with a warning in it. Also notice the DNS hosting has been switched off. 

In this case PowerPanel knows the selected (used) name server set is not manageable by PowerPanel. So DNS zone management is not possible. Also you are not able to switch it on. PowerPanel will give you a warning. 

Note: Is some cases you see the hostnames info the default name server set has been used. Due to small differences it could not been linked to the default set. So you have to choose the default set to make sure DNS can be used.   

If you want to enable a DNS zone for this domain (and the right configuration has been setup, read above) then you need to click on edit name servers button. Choose the first option (default) and click save. DNS zone will enabled automatically for you.

Known problems

In some cases you see the below details. Notice the red warning bar, but also the DNS zone button is missing and the option for DNS hosting is not displayed. This means the vendor has setup a DNS system not manageable by PowerPanel.