About ns lookup
NS records name the authoritative servers that answer questions about a domain. They are set at your registrar.
When to check
- After moving DNS to a new provider.
- When records you changed do not seem to take effect.
- To see who hosts the DNS for a domain.
A worked example
If NS records show ns1.hostprovider.com and ns2.hostprovider.com, then DNS for the domain is managed by that provider and all other records must be edited there. If you change name servers at the registrar, allow up to 24 to 48 hours for the change to spread.
Why two or more
- Having several name servers keeps the domain reachable if one fails.
- They should ideally be on different networks.
- Registrars and DNS hosts can be different companies.
Delegation
NS records at the registrar decide who answers for your domain, while NS records inside your DNS zone describe subdomains that are delegated. A mismatch between the two can cause intermittent failures.
