If you are wondering what a nameserver is, you most likely have just registered a domain name from a registrar and your hosting is with another service provider, now you have to update the DNS and specify nameservers. Or perhaps you had an existing domain name that has transferred to another registrar and you need to update the nameserver for your domain name but have no idea where or what a name server is.

In order to better understand how nameservers work, we must first take a look at how DNS works.

DNS, (Domain Name System) is a system designed and used to translate domain names, (ie: mshini.com, google.com, etc) into the corresponding numeric IP, (Internet Protocol). Nameservers have files known as zone files that store information on domain names and their corresponding IP address.

When you enter an alphanumeric address of a website, like google.com for example, the nameserver is queried, and the DNS records checked. It then sends back the IP address of the website, (192.178.54.46) and the website loads.

Typically domains would have at least two nameservers specified, although many hosts provide more than that.

Now that you better understand what a nameserver is, you can easily update your website’s nameserver.

Should Mshini Hosting administer your domain name, all you would need to do, is to send us your nameserver details and we will update the nameserver on your behalf. For further instructions on how to request to have your nameserver updated please refer to our guide here.

If we do not administer your domain name, you would need to identify who your current domain name administrator is and contact their support for assistance. Many free online sites can identify your website’s nameservers. One such site would be whois.domaintools.com. Simply enter your website name and in the results, the registrar will be listed right at the top.

Alternatively, if you are the domain name owner, and have an account with the current registrar, you could also log into the registrar’s control panel, and check if they have DNS settings where you can update and change your website’s nameservers.