Once you’ve chosen your hosting plan, and once you’ve uploaded your files through FTP or a file manager, you’re ready to let your domain go live. To do that, you need to set up DNS.

DNS is Domain Name System, which tells the “root” servers where to find your site. The good news is that if you use a control panel, DNS is set up for you automatically. With Cpanel, for example, you can go into the “zone files” section and see the details of the “zone file” for your domain. This zone file contains all the details for the domain, including IP number, any subdomains, and MX records, which controls how your e-mail is handled.

If all this seems complicated, it can be. Fortunately, Cpanel provides documentation that explains the details.

You may wish to consider using a backup DNS” service, which provides an additional nameserver that can be manually added to your DNS zone. By doing this, you can ensure your website stays accessible if your DNS server has difficulties. And, if your server or site is offline, visitors will get a message saying the website is not accessible, as opposed to not being found. The advantages to using a backup service, which usually costs money, are many.

Also, you may want to have nameservers in two geographically different locations. This way, if one nameserver goes down, you’ll have a backup. However, if you use a shared account, you may find that a backup DNS service will suit your needs just fine.

The important thing to remember about DNS is that while it can become complicated, once you learn it, it’s a breeze. If you don’t feel comfortable modifying your DNS settings, however, enlist the help of someone who does. This will avoid annoying downtime.