Bought a domain somewhere else and want it to show your Hostbox website? You just need to point it at our servers. This guide explains the two main methods and how to confirm it worked.
Nameservers vs. A records
There are two common ways to connect a domain to hosting:
- Nameservers: Hand over full DNS control to Hostbox. This is the simplest option and the one we recommend for most people, because we then manage all records for you.
- A record: Point just the domain (or a subdomain) to your server's IP address while keeping DNS managed elsewhere. Useful if you run email or other records at a different provider.
Not sure which to pick? Use nameservers. It is the least error-prone option and lets Hostbox handle the technical details.
Where to find your server IP and nameservers
Log in to your Hostbox dashboard and open your hosting service. There you will find your server IP address and your nameservers (they usually look like ns1.hostbox.me and ns2.hostbox.me).
Updating them at your registrar
Go to wherever you registered your domain and open its DNS or nameserver settings.
For the nameserver method, replace the existing nameservers with the Hostbox ones. For the A record method, set the A record to your Hostbox server IP.
Confirm and save. The registrar will start broadcasting the new settings.
DNS propagation time
Changes are not instant. DNS updates can take anywhere from a few minutes up to 24-48 hours to spread across the internet, though most people see results within a couple of hours.
How to verify it worked
Open your domain in a browser. If you see your Hostbox site, you are done! You can also use an online DNS checker to confirm your domain points to the correct nameservers or IP. Still stuck after 48 hours? Reach us at /support.