What is child nameserver and it’s uses?

July 21, 2024

child nameserver, also known as a “glue record” or “private name server,” is a DNS (Domain Name System) record that provides the IP address of a name server that is part of the domain itself. It is typically used when a domain owner wants to create their own name servers for their domain. For example, if your domain is example.com, you could create name servers like ns1.example.com and ns2.example.com.

Key Uses of a Child NameServer

  1. Custom DNS Management:
    • Allows domain owners to create and manage their own name servers, giving them full control over DNS settings and records.
  2. Branding and Professionalism:
    • Using child nameservers can enhance branding and professionalism by having name servers that match the domain name (e.g., ns1.example.com).
  3. Reseller Hosting:
    • Web hosting resellers can create their own branded name servers for the domains they manage, providing a seamless experience for their clients.
  4. Improved DNS Resolution:
    • By directly associating the name server IP address with the domain, child name servers can improve the accuracy and speed of DNS resolution.

How to Create Child Name Servers

Before explaining child name servers, it’s better to get some background information on DNS (Domain Name Services).

DNS is a system that connects a domain name to an IP address. DNS is used to remember domain names instead of IP addresses so that you don’t have to memorize a series of numbers to use whenever you wish to visit a website. When typing a website domain name in the browser’s address bar, DNS servers translate it to the IP address where the website is hosted. 

Creating child name servers involves several steps, typically performed through the domain registrar’s control panel. Here’s a general guide on how to do it:

  1. Log in to Your Domain Registrar Account:
    • Access your domain registrar’s control panel where your domain is registered.
  2. Find the Child Name Server or Glue Record Section:
    • This section may be labeled as “Child Name Servers,” “Host Names,” “Glue Records,” or similar.
  3. Add a New Child Name Server:
    • Enter the desired name for your name server (e.g., ns1) and the corresponding IP address.
    • Repeat the process for any additional name servers you want to create (e.g., ns2).
  4. Save the Changes:
    • Confirm and save the new child nameserver entries. It may take some time for the changes to propagate across the internet.
  5. Update DNS Settings:
    • Update the DNS settings of your domain to use the new child name servers. This typically involves setting the new name servers as the authoritative name servers for your domain.

Example

Suppose you own the domain example.com and want to create child name servers ns1.example.com and ns2.example.com with IP addresses 192.0.2.1 and 192.0.2.2, respectively:

  1. Log in to your domain registrar account.
  2. Navigate to the section for creating child name servers.
  3. Enter the following details:
    • ns1.example.com -> 192.0.2.1
    • ns2.example.com -> 192.0.2.2
  4. Save the entries.
  5. Update your domain’s DNS settings to use ns1.example.com and ns2.example.com as the authoritative name servers.

Conclusion

Child nameservers are an essential feature for domain owners who need custom DNS management and enhanced control over their DNS infrastructure. They are particularly useful for web hosting providers, resellers, and businesses that want to maintain a professional and branded appearance. By creating child name servers, you can manage your domain’s DNS settings more effectively and provide a more personalized experience for your clients.