To get your domain working on your server with InMotion Hosting, you will need to point your domain to our servers. The first option is to point your domain to our nameservers, this allows you to manage your DNS from your cPanel. The next option is to use a DNS change such as an A record to point to your account with us.
In this guide, we will list the nameservers for you to point your domain to and then go over the different ways to point your domain. This information applies to all Shared, VPS, Reseller, and Dedicated server plans.
What Nameservers Should I Use?
The nameservers you use will depend on the specific type of hosting account you have. Shared, VPS, & Dedicated hosting accounts use the same nameservers while Resellers use different ones listed below.
Nameservers for Shared, VPS, & Dedicated Accounts
When updating your domain’s nameservers to point your domain to InMotion Hosting, you will need to use the following nameservers:
Nameservers for Shared, VPS, & Dedicated Servers | |
|---|---|
Hostname | IP Address |
ns1.inmotionhosting.com | 74.124.210.242 |
ns2.inmotionhosting.com | 70.39.150.2 |
Nameservers for Resellers
When updating your domain’s nameservers to point your domain to a Reseller account, you will need to use the following nameservers:
Nameservers for Resellers | |
|---|---|
Hostname | IP Address |
ns1.servconfig.com | 216.194.168.112 |
ns2.servconfig.com | 70.39.146.236 |
As a reseller, you can also use custom Nameservers, such as your own branded URL instead of servconfig. Here is a link to our guide on Using Custom Nameservers as a Reseller.
Please be aware that it may take up to 24 hours before these changes begin to take effect. More info on this can be found in, How long do DNS changes take?
Pointing Your Domain
Now that you know what nameservers to use, you can update them. We’ll list several options since this must be accomplished at the same place that you registered your domain. We will then go over the A record option for pointing your domain.
Changing Nameservers at InMotion
If your domain is registered through InMotion Hosting, you can update and manage your domain from the Account Management Panel (AMP):
Changing Nameservers at Other Registrars
Your nameservers will need to be updated at your domain’s registrar such as Google, GoDaddy or NameCheap. If you’re unsure how to update your nameservers, please contact your current registrar for further assistance. For the more popular registrars, we do have documentation available to assist, located in the list below:
- Making DNS Changes at Enom.com
- Making DNS Changes at GoDaddy.com
- Making DNS Changes at Google Domains
- Making DNS Changes at NameCheap.com
Using an A Record
If you want to point your domain using an A record instead of pointing your nameservers, it is a 2 step process.
- Look up the IP Address for your account.
- Create an A record for your domain pointing to the IP address, be sure to remove any other existing A records. The steps for creating an A record will differ based on your specific registrar or DNS host, but if they use cPanel we have a guide on Adding an A Record in cPanel.
Congratulations, now you know how to point your domain to InMotion Hosting using nameservers or an A record!
I’m wanting to transfer a domain from hostpapa to inmotion with little downtime. Using your cpanel, I’ve created the domain, and have a copy of my wordpress site up and running, and assume I just need to point the DNS from my current provider to your servers? And then within a day or two, the site is accessed on your servers? Then I can put in a domain name transfer request and wait a while for it to be transferred, but the website remains accessible with no down time?
Hi John, great question. Your overall plan is correct: you should be able to point your DNS from your current site to the InMotion Hosting nameservers and, after somewhere between two and twenty-four hours for propagation time, all traffic and mail to your domain will be directed to your InMotion Hosting website. Please don’t forget to make any equivalent emails on your InMotion Hosting account for any existing emails tied to your domain to make sure that mail isn’t lost.
The only issue I want to make you aware of is that, sometimes, updating your domain information (such as where your domain is pointing) can block the transfer of your domain for two weeks or so, depending on your registrar. So, if you update the domain to point to our nameservers, you may have to wait a couple of weeks before transferring domain registration to InMotion Hosting.
On the other hand, once you set your domain to transfer to InMotion Hosting, you will likely be unable to point it to different nameservers until the transfer is complete.
Now, this shouldn’t be an issue, but if you have less than a month before your domain registration expires at your current registrar, you will have to decide what you want to prioritize. You don’t want to end up losing your domain registration by requesting a transfer so close to its renewal date that it may expire. That said as long as you aren’t under a time crunch it shouldn’t be an issue, and if you’re worried about the date of renewal being close to transfer you can always reach out to our Customer Service Billing team for guidance. Hope that helps!
Thank you for providing the host names and IP addresses. I purchased a domain name and filled out the application using the info you provided — it worked. \yay/ Thanx again.
You’re very welcome Amber! Let us know if you need any further assistance!