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Use Third Party DNS Servers, For 1And1 Domains

Not all registrars are able to support the new Blogger domain ownership verification requirement.

Some registrars won't allow a second "CNAME" in the same subdomain - and others can't handle the excessively long target address. Ever since Blogger added domain ownership verification, we've been seeing complaints from some blog owners, who have purchased domains directly from registrars who can't provide the required DNS addresses on their servers.

Even though not all registrars have DNS servers that will provide the right DNS address entries, most registrars will allow us to use third party DNS servers. The use of publicly available DNS servers, which can provide the required DNS addresses, will eliminate the need to transfer domain registration - when the registrar is unable to provide the right DNS addresses, using their own servers.

If you're trying to setup your domain, purchased from 1And1 or a similar registrar, you need only to setup a suitable third party DNS server.

If your registrar limits their services, use a third party DNS host.

Use of a third party DNS host will also help victims of the eNom DNS Infrastructure problem - and those who purchased Name Registration, directly from the registrar.

An explanation of the solution is provided, by Blogger Engineers.

Marc Ridey, of Blogger Engineering, provides How to setup your Blogger blog with a custom domain from 1and1.com, and adds three simple steps to the normal third party registrar domain setup process.

  1. Setup a (free) ClouDNS account.
  2. Setup your normal DNS addresses (plus the domain ownership verification "CNAME", if required) in ClouDNS, using the ClouDNS Domain Manager wizard.
  3. Setup your domain, using your registrar's domain manager wizard, pointing to the ClouDNS DNS servers.

Do each step, one at a time - and check your work.

When you update DNS addresses, such as adding additional hosts, and ownership verification, you use the ClouDNS Domain Manager wizard.

Note the caveat, for advanced domain owners.

If you are using your third party registrar because you have non Blogger services (a web site, email, files, or other service) hosted by the registrar, please note the warning by Marc!
Warning: If you are using 1and1 hosting services to display a website as well as a Blogger blog, these instructions will disable the website. Please post a comment with your website address and I'll check how these instructions must be updated. If you're using eMail, remember to complete the optional eMail step.

Note that ClouDNS, when setup, may offer the option to redirect the domain root (aka "naked domain") to the "www" alias (or whatever DNS address you may setup). For best results, ignore that option, and use the Blogger or Google Apps redirect.

There are still only three acceptable DNS models - use of ClouDNS, or any similar third party DNS host, will not change that.

This may not be a perfect solution - but it will produce a stable domain.

This may not be an ideal solution for the problem - it introduces a bit of complexity into the domain setup process. This will allow owners of newly purchased domains from 1And1, Network Solutions, and others to get their domains verified, and get their blogs online again.

Since this starts with blog owners who elected to purchase their domain directly from a registrar - and setup the domain themselves - maybe it's not too much, technically.

http://blogging.nitecruzr.net/2012/11/use-third-party-dns-servers-for-domains.html Use Third Party DNS Servers, For Domains Registered By 1And1, And Similar Registrars

Comments

Unknown said…
Sweet! Thanks for putting this up: works as advertised. :)
Alan said…
I was wondering if there was any way I could return the favour.

Thanks a ton!!
nitecruzr u rock

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