Knowledgebase

Short answer: a domain on its own doesn't come with DNS or email on our side. There's no DNS zone and no email for it with us. To get both, add a hosting package, or point your domain to another provider and manage DNS and email there.

A domain is your name on the internet. On its own it doesn't include a mailbox, a website or a place to manage DNS records with us. This article explains what you get and your options.

What a domain on its own includes

• The registration of your domain name.
• The choice of where it points, by setting its nameservers in your client area.

It doesn't include:

• A DNS zone with us, so the client area has no option to add TXT, CNAME, A or MX records.
• Email addresses on your domain.
• Space for a website.

This is why many clients can't find "DNS management" in the client area: there's nothing to manage until there's hosting.

Option 1: add a hosting package with us

A hosting package gives you cPanel, where you create email addresses (Email Accounts) and add DNS records (Zone Editor).

1. Go to your client area.
2. Open Services, then Order New Services.
3. Choose a web hosting package.
4. When asked about the domain, choose "I will use my existing domain and update my nameservers" and enter your domain.
5. Check out. The cart shows the price before you pay.

Once it's active, see "How do I set up my business email?" and "How do I add a DNS record (TXT, CNAME, A or MX)?".

Option 2: point your domain to another provider

If your website or email is somewhere else, such as Vercel, Wix, Google or Microsoft, set your domain's nameservers to theirs. To come back to us later, use ns1.connectedi.co.za and ns2.connectedi.co.za. You then add DNS records and set up email with that provider, not with us. See "How do I change my nameservers?".

Is there a DNS-only option without hosting?

Open a support ticket and we'll confirm the options for your domain.

If it still doesn't work

Open a support ticket from your client area. Tell us the domain, what you're trying to set up (website, email or a verification record) and which provider asked for it. Paste any record as text.

To send us the right details first time, see "How do I open a support ticket, and what should I include?".

Quick questions

Why can't I find DNS management? Your domain has no hosting package with us, so there's no DNS zone to manage.

Can I have email with just a domain? Not with us. Email on your domain comes with a hosting package.

I only need one TXT record. Do I need hosting? Not if you point your nameservers to your other provider and add the record there.

Will changing nameservers affect my domain registration? No. Your domain stays registered with us. Only the place that answers for it changes.

MyGuru Support