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How to Change the IP Address for a Name Server

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Introduction

Name servers play a pivotal role in the Domain Name System (DNS), acting as the bridge between human-readable domain names and machine-understandable IP addresses. Each name server typically has an associated IP address that DNS resolvers use to query domain records. In situations such as server migration, network restructuring, or IP deprecation, updating the IP address associated with a name server becomes necessary to ensure continued domain resolution without downtime.

Changing the IP address of a name server is a process that involves modifying the glue records for the domain. Glue records are DNS records created at the domain registrar that associate a hostname (like ns1.example.com) with an IP address. Without proper glue records, domains relying on private or custom name servers may become unreachable if the IP address changes.

This task is generally required when using custom (or private) name servers such as ns1.yourdomain.com, often configured on VPS or dedicated hosting environments. Common scenarios that necessitate this update include server migrations, data center changes, switching hosting providers, or IP renumbering due to infrastructure updates.

The process differs slightly depending on the domain registrar or DNS control panel, but the underlying principle remains the same: update the IP address associated with each custom name server by modifying glue records and ensuring DNS propagation is accounted for. The propagation time can range from a few minutes to 48 hours, depending on DNS caching and TTL (Time-To-Live) values.

This guide outlines the necessary steps to update the IP address of a name server by modifying glue records through a domain registrar interface. It assumes the use of private name servers and provides a generic workflow that applies across most major registrars.

 

Prerequisites

  • A registered domain name with access to the registrar control panel
  • Existing custom/private name servers (e.g., ns1.yourdomain.com)
  • The new IP address(es) to assign to the name server(s)
  • Access to DNS records and DNS zone file, if required
  • DNS propagation awareness (typically up to 48 hours)
  • Ensure the new server is configured to respond to DNS queries for the domains

 

Step-by-step Guide

Step 1: Determine the Current Name Server and IP Configuration

Before making changes, confirm the existing configuration of the name servers and their associated IP addresses.

dig ns example.com
dig ns1.example.com

Check the glue records with:

whois example.com
🖊️ Tip: Use online tools like https://intodns.com to get a full DNS health check including name server IPs and glue record status.

 

Step 2: Prepare the New Server with DNS Configuration

Ensure the new server (with the new IP address) is properly configured to handle DNS for the domain(s). This includes:

  • Installing a DNS server (e.g., BIND, PowerDNS)
  • Adding valid zone files for the domain
  • Opening necessary firewall ports (UDP/TCP 53)
systemctl start named
systemctl enable named

Ensure the zone file includes proper records:

@   IN   NS   ns1.example.com.
ns1 IN   A    NEW.IP.ADDRESS

 

Step 3: Update the Glue Record via Domain Registrar

Log in to your domain registrar’s control panel and perform the following:

  1. Navigate to Domain Management > Host Records or Name Server Settings.
  2. Locate the registered name servers (e.g., ns1.example.com).
  3. Update the associated IP address to the new value.
  4. Save or submit the changes.
⚠️ Important Note: Failing to update the glue record can result in DNS resolution failure even if the DNS server is correctly configured.

 

Step 4: Update DNS Zone Records (if needed)

If the domain’s DNS zone is managed on a separate DNS hosting provider (e.g., Cloudflare, cPanel DNS), update the A records for the name servers to point to the new IP addresses.

ns1 IN A NEW.IP.ADDRESS

 

Step 5: Verify the Update and Monitor Propagation

After submitting the changes, verify the updates using the following tools:

dig ns1.example.com +short
whois example.com

Monitor DNS propagation with tools like:

Allow up to 24–48 hours for global DNS propagation, depending on the previous TTL settings.

 

Conclusion

Changing the IP address of a name server involves updating glue records at the domain registrar and ensuring the DNS server is properly configured at the new IP. This is a critical step during server migrations or network changes involving private name servers. By following this guide, administrators can minimize downtime and maintain DNS resolution integrity during the transition.

For related topics, review articles on configuring custom name servers, managing glue records, and troubleshooting DNS propagation issues.

Should you have any inquiries about the guidelines, please feel free to open a ticket through your portal account or contact us at support@ipserverone.com. We’ll be happy to assist you further.

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