VPS & Dedicated Hosting: How To Set Up Custom Name Servers Using Multiple cPanel Accounts

Custom Nameservers on VPS and Dedicated Hosting are required when using multiple cPanels. This tutorial will guide you through how to set up custom name servers using multiple cPanel accounts with your domains.

• Adding the Custom Nameservers
• Setting the Custom A Records for your Nameservers
• Third-Party Domain Nameservers Registration
• Summary

Adding the Custom Nameservers

1. Log in to your Bluehost Account Manager.
2. Click Domains in the left navigation bar.
3. Click Domains in the left navigation bar.
4. Select Custom Nameservers and enter the nameservers for your account.
   • ns1.example.com
   • ns2.example.com

   If you do not have the A records setup for the nameserver, go to this article's Setting A Records section.

Setting the Custom A Records for your Nameservers

If you know that you have the A records already, you can skip this section.

1. Log in to your Bluehost Account Manager.
2. Click Domains in the left navigation bar.
3. Choose the domain name you want to manage under the All My Domain Names section.
   • If you have multiple domain names on your account, click the MANAGE button on the domain name you want to manage.
   • You will be rerouted to the Domain Overview page if you only have a single domain name on your account.
4. Click Advanced Tools.
5. Click the MANAGE link beside Advanced DNS Records.
6. Click the CONTINUE button on the Advanced DNS Records pop-up that appears.
7. Click +ADD RECORD.
8. Fill in the required fields once the Add Advanced DNS Records pop-up appears. Additional fields may appear based on the specific record you are in the process of adding. Fill out details as instructed by the DNS record provider.
   • Choose the Record Type.
   • Set the TTL (time to live).
9. Lastly, click on the ADD button to add the new record.

Your home directory may be home1, home2, home3, etc.

Repeat if you would like to have more than one nameserver record.

Third-Party Domain Nameservers Registration

If you use a 3rd party to handle your DNS, you will need to do the same as above, using their interface to configure the nameservers to use your IP address. This process varies depending on the registrar. Here are some guides that a few of the registrars have provided. Common names for this process are "private nameservers" and "custom nameservers," but the naming varies.

GoDaddy

Setting Custom Nameservers

NameCheap

How do I register personal nameservers for my domain?

Domain.com

Domain Management: How to Update Private Nameservers

If you have questions, you will need to contact your registrar. Bluehost does not ultimately have control of your domain name registrar's settings.

Summary

To ensure your websites and domain names are available online, you must set up custom name servers on your VPS and Dedicated server. It is essential to be aware of the IP address of your name server, just like a store owner should know their physical address.