How to add or edit DNS records in cPanel (Zone Editor)

DNS records tell the internet where to send traffic for your domain: which server shows your website, where your e-mail is delivered, and which third-party services are allowed to act on your behalf. On Trinico Cloud hosting you manage these yourself in cPanel, using the Zone Editor.

Before you start, check who controls your DNS. The Zone Editor only changes anything if your domain is pointed at Trinico Cloud's nameservers (the ones we sent you when your hosting was set up). If your domain still uses another provider's nameservers, or its DNS is managed at the registrar, records added here will have no effect. They need to be added wherever your DNS is actually hosted. Not sure which applies to you? Send us a WhatsApp on +27 60 070 2900 and we will confirm it before you change anything.

Opening the Zone Editor

1. Log in to cPanel from your Trinico Cloud client area (see How to access cPanel ).
2. In the Domains section, click Zone Editor.
3. Find the domain you want to change and click Manage.

Adding a record

1. Click Add Record, or use the small arrow beside it to pick a specific record type.
2. Choose the record Type, fill in the fields described below, and leave the TTL at its default unless you have a reason to change it.
3. Click Save Record.

The record types you will use most

• A record points a name at an IPv4 address. Use it to point your domain or a subdomain such as shop.yourdomain.co.za at a server. Fields: Name (the host) and Address (the IP address).
• CNAME record points a name at another name rather than an IP address. Common for www or for verifying a third-party service. Fields: Name and Record (the destination, for example yourdomain.co.za).
• MX record decides which mail server receives e-mail for your domain. Fields: Priority (a lower number is tried first) and Destination (the mail server hostname). Only change this if you are moving e-mail to or from Trinico Cloud.
• TXT record holds plain text used for verification and for e-mail security such as SPF, DKIM and DMARC. Fields: Name and Record (the exact text you were given). For e-mail deliverability, see Setting up SPF, DKIM and DMARC .

Editing or deleting a record

On the same Manage screen, find the record in the list, then click Edit to change it or Delete to remove it. Take care with records that are already there. Deleting the wrong A or MX record can take your website or e-mail offline.

How long until it takes effect?

DNS changes are not always instant. Most updates show within a few minutes to a couple of hours, but they can take up to 24 to 48 hours to be seen everywhere while the old values clear from caches around the world. This is called propagation. If something looks wrong, give it a little time before changing it again.

A quick safety checklist

• Double-check the exact value before saving. A single wrong character will stop it working.
• In most cases only one type of record should answer for a given name. For example, do not mix a CNAME with other records on the same name.
• If you are pasting a value from another provider, watch for stray spaces at the start or end.

Still stuck?

If you are not sure which record to add, or a change is not behaving as expected, please do not guess with live records. Message our local team on WhatsApp at +27 60 070 2900, or open a ticket from your client area, and we will sort it out with you. You can also read cPanel's official walk-through here: cPanel Zone Editor documentation .