What is the use of Zone editor in cPanel?

by GANIKA SENGUPTA

The Zone Editor in cPanel is a tool used for managing DNS (Domain Name System) records for domains associated with your hosting account. It allows you to control and configure the various DNS settings for your domain names, which are essential for directing internet traffic and ensuring that your domain names point to the correct IP addresses, mail servers, and other services.

Common Uses of the Zone Editor:

  1. Add, Edit, or Delete DNS Records:
    • You can create, modify, or remove DNS records such as A, CNAME, MX, TXT, SRV, and others.
  2. Managing A Records:
    • The A record maps a domain or subdomain to an IP address. You can use the Zone Editor to change the IP address where your domain points.
  3. Managing CNAME Records:
    • CNAME records are used to point a domain or subdomain to another domain. This is useful for redirection or aliasing purposes.
  4. Managing MX Records:
    • MX records specify the mail servers that are responsible for receiving email on behalf of your domain. The Zone Editor allows you to change your email provider by updating the MX records.
  5. Adding TXT Records:
    • TXT records are often used for verifying domain ownership, adding SPF (Sender Policy Framework) records, and setting up email authentication protocols like DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) and DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance).
  6. Setting Up SRV Records:
    • SRV (Service) records specify services available on a domain, such as VoIP or IM services.
  7. Redirecting Subdomains:
    • You can create A or CNAME records to point subdomains (like blog.yourdomain.com) to specific IP addresses or servers.
  8. Handling TTL (Time To Live):
    • You can manage the TTL for each DNS record. TTL defines how long the DNS record is cached by servers before checking for updates.

Types of DNS Records Managed via Zone Editor:

  • A Record: Points a domain to an IP address.
  • AAAA Record: Points a domain to an IPv6 address.
  • CNAME Record: Points one domain or subdomain to another domain name.
  • MX Record: Specifies mail servers for a domain.
  • TXT Record: Stores arbitrary text, often used for domain verification and email authentication.
  • SRV Record: Specifies services and ports for a domain.
  • NS Record: Specifies name servers for a domain.

Why Use the Zone Editor?

  • Domain Redirection: Direct your domain or subdomain traffic to specific IPs or other domain names.
  • Email Management: Configure email servers to handle mail for your domain.
  • DNS Customization: Fine-tune DNS settings to match your specific needs, such as enabling third-party services like Google Workspace, Office 365, etc.
  • Security Enhancements: Add DNS-based security features like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC to protect your domain from email spoofing.

Steps to Edit a Record

To edit record using Zone Editor :

1. On the cPanel home screen go to DOMAINS section, and click on Zone Editor.

2. Under the Domains section, identify the domain for which you want to add a record and then click on Manage.

3. Locate your record that needs to be edited, and then under Actions, click on Edit.

4. You can modify the value or values that you want to edit and then click on Save Record. cPanel will update the record.

In short, the Zone Editor in cPanel is a powerful tool for managing how your domain is resolved and interacts with other services on the internet.