How to Change Default Name Servers (NS) on VergeCloud for Your Website

Changing Default Name Servers

Overview

A Name Server (NS) Record is a fundamental type of DNS record that specifies which DNS server is authoritative for a particular domain. It essentially tells the internet where to go when someone tries to access your domain. Without accurate NS records, your website, email services, and other domain-related functions may not work correctly. When a user types your domain into a browser, an NS record directs that query to the correct DNS server, which then provides other relevant records like A, MX, or CNAME to complete the request. For example, an NS record for example.com might point to ns1.vergecloud.com and ns2.vergecloud.com. These nameservers handle all requests related to example.com, ensuring that visitors can access your website reliably.

VergeCloud provides updated NS addresses for domains using its DNS and CDN services. These nameservers are optimized for speed, reliability, and global availability. However, in some scenarios, certain NS addresses may not be fully compatible with all domain registrars or configurations. In such cases, you can switch to alternative NS addresses that use common top-level domains (TLDs) like .com or .net. Doing so helps maintain smooth domain resolution and ensures your DNS setup meets registrar requirements.

Using Custom NS

VergeCloud DNS allows customers to use custom nameservers for their domains. This feature gives businesses more control over their DNS setup and allows consistent branding across multiple domains. Custom NS is particularly valuable for enterprises or agencies that manage multiple domains and want a unified nameserver structure. It also allows better integration with internal systems or private DNS setups.

Note: Custom NS is available only on professional and enterprise plans. Users on lower-tier plans will need to upgrade to unlock this feature. Once enabled, custom NS settings apply at the account level. This means that all current domains under your account, as well as any new domains you add, will automatically use the configured custom nameservers. This reduces repetitive configuration and ensures uniformity across your domain portfolio.

Setting Custom NS via Dashboard

To set up custom NS through the VergeCloud dashboard, follow these steps:
  1. Log in to your VergeCloud CDN panel.
  2. Navigate to the DNS Records section.
  3. In the Customize Domain NS section, enter your desired nameservers.
  4. Confirm the changes and save.
This process updates the NS records for your domain and allows VergeCloud to serve DNS and CDN traffic using your specified custom nameservers. It is recommended to double-check the nameservers for typos, as an incorrect entry could temporarily disrupt domain resolution.
 
 

Setting Custom NS via API

For users who prefer automation or programmatic control, VergeCloud provides an API endpoint for updating NS records. This is particularly useful for managing multiple domains or integrating DNS management into internal workflows.

https://api.vergecloud.com/docs#tag/domain/put/v1domainsdomainns-keys

  1. curl --location --request PUT 'https://api.vergecloud.com/domains/example.com/ns-keys' \
--header 'Authorization: Bearer API_KEY' \
--header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
--data '{"ns_keys":["ns1.example.com","ns2.example.com"]}'

Adding Glue Records

A Glue Record is a DNS record that provides the IP address of a nameserver when that nameserver is part of the domain it serves. Glue records are essential to prevent circular dependencies in DNS resolution. For example, if ns1.example.com is the authoritative nameserver for example.com, the system needs to know the IP address of ns1.example.com to resolve the domain correctly. Without a glue record, DNS queries could get stuck in a loop.

After setting custom NS records in VergeCloud, the system assigns IP addresses to the new nameservers. You must then copy these IPs and register them as Glue Records with your domain registrar. Skipping this step is a common cause of domain resolution failures, so it’s important to complete it accurately.

Testing

After configuring custom NS and registering Glue Records, you should verify the setup to ensure everything works as expected. The dig command is a reliable tool for this purpose:

  1. dig NS example.com
A typical output might look like this:
  1. ; <<>> DiG 9.16.1-Ubuntu <<>> NS example.com
;; global options: +cmd
;; Got answer:
;; ->>HEADER<<- opcode: QUERY, status: NOERROR, id: 56473
;; flags: qr rd ra; QUERY: 1, ANSWER: 2, AUTHORITY: 1, ADDITIONAL: 1

;; QUESTION SECTION:
;example.com.                   IN      NS

;; ANSWER SECTION:
example.com.            86400   IN      NS      ns1.example.com.
example.com.            86400   IN      NS      ns2.example.com.

;; Query time: 58 msec
;; SERVER: 8.8.8.8#53(8.8.8.8)
;; WHEN: Thu
;; MSG SIZE  rcvd: 114
This confirms that your custom nameservers are visible globally and correctly configured. It is recommended to repeat this test from multiple networks to ensure proper propagation.

Considerations

Custom NS setup requires careful attention to Glue Records. Without them, your nameservers may fail to resolve. Additionally, propagation of NS changes can take up to 48 hours across the global DNS network, so temporary delays are normal.

It’s also critical to monitor your DNS after making changes. Even minor misconfigurations can cause website downtime, email delivery failures, or accessibility issues. VergeCloud provides logging and analytics tools to help monitor performance, identify errors, and ensure stable operation.

In conclusion, setting up custom NS with VergeCloud offers businesses greater control, professional branding, and simplified management of multiple domains. By following dashboard or API setup steps carefully, registering Glue Records, and verifying configuration, you can ensure a reliable, high-performance DNS setup that integrates seamlessly with VergeCloud’s CDN services.

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