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Domains & DNS, demystified

A domain name (pulmocon.org) and the server it points to are two separate things, connected by one small setting. Once you see the three pieces, DNS stops being scary.

A domain name points at a server's IP address through an A record pulmocon.org the name people type 203.0.113.9 your server's address (its IP) A record "this name → that server" You bought this at a registrar (Namecheap, GoDaddy, Cloudflare…) The A record lives on whoever runs this domain's DNS (its nameservers)

The three pieces

  • Registrar — the shop where you bought the name (Namecheap, GoDaddy, Cloudflare, etc.). It proves you own pulmocon.org. That’s all it does.
  • Nameservers (DNS) — the service that answers questions about your domain: “where does pulmocon.org live?” By default that’s your registrar’s DNS, but it can be moved (e.g. to your server’s own DNS, or Cloudflare).
  • A record — the actual setting that says pulmocon.org → 203.0.113.9 (your server’s IP). This is the one you almost always care about.

Point your domain at your server

  1. Find your server’s IP address (your VPS/cloud dashboard, or OrbixPanel → Network / Server info).
  2. In whoever manages your DNS, create/edit:
    • an A record for @ (the root) → your server IP, and
    • a CNAME for www → your root domain (so www. works too).
  3. Wait a bit — DNS changes take minutes (sometimes a couple of hours) to spread. This delay is called propagation.

In OrbixPanel, if your domain’s DNS is hosted on the panel, you add these in DNS and it’s handled for you.

Common confusions

  • “I bought the domain, why isn’t my site showing?” Owning the name (registrar) is separate from pointing it at a server (the A record). You still need step 2.
  • Which DNS do I edit? Whoever your nameservers point to. If you never changed them, it’s your registrar’s DNS panel. If you set the panel’s nameservers, edit it in OrbixPanel.
  • It worked for me but not my friend. That’s propagation — give it time, and clear your DNS cache.

Mental model: the registrar is the deed to your house; the A record is the street address that tells people (and delivery trucks) where the house actually is.

Related: Manage DNS records · next up: What is SSL / HTTPS →