If you run your own nameservers, your domain needs glue records so the rest of the internet can find those nameservers. This article explains what glue records and private nameservers are, and walks through registering host records and assigning private nameservers to a domain at Enom.
About glue records and private nameservers
A private nameserver is a nameserver that runs under your own domain, for example ns1.yourdomain.com and ns2.yourdomain.com, rather than a generic provider nameserver. Because those hostnames live inside the same domain they serve, the DNS system needs a way to break the resulting circular lookup.
A glue record solves this. It associates a nameserver hostname with its IP address and registers that pairing at the registry through your registrar. The glue record "glues" the hostname to an IP so resolvers can reach your nameserver directly instead of looping back to the domain it is supposed to answer for.
Glue records only matter when your nameservers are subdomains of the domain they serve. If your nameservers belong to a different domain that already resolves, you typically do not need to create glue records.
Before you begin
- Have the exact hostname for each nameserver ready (for example ns1.yourdomain.com).
- Have the IPv4 address for each nameserver.
- Confirm the domain whose nameservers you are creating is registered in your Enom account.
- Allow time for DNS propagation after changes, which can take up to 24–48 hours.
Step 1: Register the host (glue) records
Registering a host record tells Enom which IP address belongs to each of your nameserver hostnames.
- Sign in to your Enom account.
- Open the domain that your nameserver hostnames belong to (for example, the domain in ns1.yourdomain.com).
- Locate the option to register a nameserver or host record.
- Enter the nameserver hostname and its IPv4 address, then save.
- Repeat for each nameserver (commonly at least two: ns1 and ns2).
Most registries require at least two nameservers per domain for redundancy.
Step 2: Assign the private nameservers to a domain
Once the glue records exist, point the domain at your private nameservers so queries are directed to them.
- Open the domain you want to serve with your private nameservers.
- Go to the domain's nameserver settings.
- Replace the existing nameservers with your private nameserver hostnames (for example ns1.yourdomain.com and ns2.yourdomain.com), then save.
Changing nameservers moves authority for the domain to your servers. Make sure your nameservers are fully configured and answering for the zone before you switch, or the domain may stop resolving.
Next steps
Questions? Contact Enom Support.
How helpful was this article?
Thanks for your feedback!
Do you still need help? If so please submit a request here.