RemarkableCloud

Create Custom DNS Zones in WHM

How to add, edit, and delete DNS zones and records in WHM: A, CNAME, MX, TXT, and other record types explained with examples.

WHM includes a full DNS server (BIND). This guide covers adding DNS zones, editing records, and the most common record types you’ll work with.

Adding a new DNS zone

A DNS zone needs to exist before a domain can be hosted or have DNS records managed from WHM.

  • Go to DNS Functions → Add DNS Zone.
  • Enter the IP Address the zone's A record should point to (your server IP).
  • Enter the Domain name.
  • Click Add. WHM creates the zone with default records (A, MX, NS, SOA).
    •  When you create a cPanel account, WHM automatically creates the DNS zone for the primary domain. You only need to manually add a zone for domains that aren't attached to a cPanel account.

    Editing a DNS zone

    1. Go to DNS Functions → Edit DNS Zone
    2. Select the domain from the dropdown
    3. The zone editor shows all existing records
    4. Modify values directly in the text fields
    5. Click Save when done

    Common record types

    A record

    Maps a hostname to an IPv4 address.

    NameTTLTypeValue
    yourdomain.com.14400A1.2.3.4
    www14400A1.2.3.4
    mail14400A1.2.3.4

    CNAME record

    Creates an alias pointing one hostname to another. Cannot be used on the root domain (@).

    NameTTLTypeValue
    shop14400CNAMEstores.shopify.com.
    blog14400CNAMEyourdomain.com.

    MX record

    Routes email for the domain to the correct mail server.

    NameTTLTypePriorityValue
    yourdomain.com.14400MX0mail.yourdomain.com.

    TXT record

    Used for SPF, DKIM, DMARC, and domain verification. No limit on number of TXT records.

    NameTTLTypeValue
    yourdomain.com.14400TXTv=spf1 ip4:1.2.3.4 include:mailchannels.net ~all
    _dmarc14400TXTv=DMARC1; p=quarantine; rua=mailto:dmarc@yourdomain.com
    In the WHM zone editor, fully qualified domain names must end with a period: mail.yourdomain.com. not mail.yourdomain.com. Missing the trailing period causes the server to append the zone name, creating incorrect records.

    Checking DNS from command line

    # Check A record
dig yourdomain.com A +short

# Check MX
dig yourdomain.com MX +short

# Check all TXT records
dig yourdomain.com TXT +short

# Check from a specific nameserver
dig @ns1.remarkablecloud.com yourdomain.com A

    Reloading DNS after changes

    WHM reloads BIND automatically when you save a zone. If changes don’t appear immediately, force a reload:

    /scripts/restartsrv_named
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