To make sure your website is accessible under your domain name, you need to configure DNS (Domain Name System) settings to point your domain to your offshore hosting server. Depending on your situation (registering a new domain or using an existing one), the steps may vary slightly:

• Using Offshore-Servers’ Nameservers: The simplest method is often to use the nameservers provided by Offshore-Servers. In your welcome email or account info, there will be nameservers listed, such as ns1.offshore-servers.com and ns2.offshore-servers.com (these are examples). If you bought your domain from a registrar (e.g., Namecheap, GoDaddy), log in to your domain registrar’s control panel and find the DNS or Nameservers settings for your domain. Replace whatever is there with the Offshore-Servers nameservers. For example, set NS1 to ns1.offshore-servers.com and NS2 to ns2.offshore-servers.com. Allow some time (DNS propagation can take a few hours up to 24 hours worldwide, though usually just a few hours) for this change to propagate. Once in effect, your domain’s DNS will be managed by Offshore-Servers. Using the host’s nameservers means any DNS records (A, MX, CNAME, etc.) can be managed in cPanel’s Zone Editor. By default, cPanel will have already created an A record for your domain pointing to the server’s IP, as well as common records (like www CNAME to yourdomain.com, mail records if you have email, etc.). You can verify or edit these via Zone Editor in cPanel.
• Editing DNS Records via Zone Editor: In cPanel, go to Zone Editor (under Domains section). You will see your domain listed. Click Manage next to it to view all DNS records. Typical records and their purposes:
  • A Record: Points a hostname to an IP. You should have an A record for yourdomain.com to the server IP. Also often one for mail.yourdomain.com to server IP (for email).
  • CNAME: Alias records. e.g., www.yourdomain.com as a CNAME to yourdomain.com, so that www resolves the same.
  • MX Record: Mail exchange record, points to the mail server. Likely yourdomain.com MX 0 yourdomain.com or mail.yourdomain.com. Make sure MX is set to the correct host (cPanel often uses the same server as mail host).
  • TXT Records: include SPF (Sender Policy Framework) for email and possibly DKIM for email signing. If you created email accounts, cPanel may have added an SPF TXT automatically. These help with email delivery.

  Generally, cPanel sets these up automatically upon account creation, so you shouldn’t need to add them from scratch, just tweak if needed.

• Using External DNS (Optional): If you prefer to keep your DNS at a third-party provider or registrar, you can. In that case, you would not point the domain to the host’s nameservers, but instead create an A record at your DNS provider pointing to your offshore server’s IP. For example, at your registrar’s DNS panel, set:
  • yourdomain.com -> A -> [Offshore Server IP]
  • www.yourdomain.com -> CNAME -> yourdomain.com (or another A record to same IP).
  • If you plan to use Offshore-Servers for email, also set MX record to your server. If not using their email, set MX to wherever needed (like Google Workspace or others if applicable).

  Using external DNS might be desirable if you manage many domains in one place. Just know that any DNS changes need to be made there rather than in cPanel.

• DNS Propagation: After setting up DNS, you might need to wait a bit. Propagation refers to the time it takes for DNS changes to update across the internet. You can use tools like “Whatsmydns.net” to check if your domain is resolving to the correct IP globally. If your site isn’t reachable at first, it could be due to propagation delay or a cached old IP. Typically, within a few hours your domain should start pointing to the offshore server.
• Domain Redirects (WWW vs non-WWW): Decide if you want your site to resolve with or without “www”. Usually, both should work. If you want to force one, you can set up an .htaccess rule (for Apache) to redirect www to non-www or vice versa. However, DNS-wise, ensure the www record is in place so that either will reach the server.
• Subdomains: You can add subdomains in cPanel under Subdomains section. This automatically creates DNS records for them. For example, adding subdomain “blog” will make blog.yourdomain.com and create a folder for it. DNS will update internally (if using host’s nameservers) to point blog -> server IP. If using external DNS, you’d need to also add those records externally.
• DNS for Email: If you plan to use the shared hosting for email (we set up earlier), ensure you have an MX record pointing to your server. cPanel will have done that if you use their DNS. If using external DNS, set MX to yourdomain.com (assuming the A record of yourdomain goes to server IP) or to mail.yourdomain.com and ensure mail.yourdomain.com A record exists. Also add SPF and DKIM TXT records. In cPanel’s Zone Editor, you can click “Add Record” to add a TXT for SPF. A typical SPF might be:
  yourdomain.com TXT "v=spf1 +a +mx ~all"
  This states that the server (the A record and MX) are allowed to send mail for the domain. For DKIM, if cPanel has an Email Deliverability section, you can generate and copy a DKIM record.

Summary: Managing DNS might seem technical, but cPanel’s automation handles much of it if you use the provided nameservers. Essentially, you want your domain’s A record(s) to hit the offshore server so visitors reach your site hosted there. Once DNS is correctly set, accessing your site via your domain should bring up the content you uploaded.

Always remember, DNS changes are not instantaneous, but once they propagate, you’re set. If any domain-related issue arises (like site reachable via IP but not via domain), double-check the DNS configuration as described. Now with your domain resolving to Offshore-Servers, you have a functioning website. Next, we’ll look at installing web applications easily.