Domains & DNS Management

SwiftCloud provides integrated domain registration and DNS management powered by PowerDNS. Manage all your domains and DNS records from a single dashboard.

Adding a Domain

1. Navigate to Domains in your dashboard.
2. Click "Add Domain".
3. Enter your domain name (e.g., example.co.zm).
4. Select the project to associate with this domain.
5. Click "Add Domain" to provision.

Note: After adding a domain, you must configure your domain's nameservers to point to our platform for DNS management to work.

Nameserver Configuration

To use SwiftCloud DNS management, update your domain's nameservers at your registrar:

Verifying Nameservers

After updating nameservers (can take 24-48 hours to propagate), use the "Verify" button in the dashboard to confirm configuration.

Managing DNS Records

Once your domain is configured, you can add DNS records:

Supported Record Types

Adding a DNS Record

1. Click on your domain in the list.
2. In the DNS Records tab, fill in the form:
• Name: Subdomain or @ for root domain
• Type: Select record type from dropdown
• Content: The value (IP, domain, text, etc.)
• TTL: Time to live in seconds (default: 3600)
• Priority: For MX/SRV records
3. Click "Add Record".

Editing & Deleting Records

Click the Edit or Delete button next to any record to modify or remove it. Changes sync to PowerDNS immediately.

DNS Sync Status

Each domain shows a sync status indicator:

• Synced — DNS records are active and propagating
• Pending — Waiting for nameserver configuration
• Failed — Sync error (check logs or contact support)

Common Use Cases

Pointing Domain to VM

1. Create an A record with your VM's public IP
2. Set name to @ for root or subdomain (e.g., app)
3. Wait for propagation (usually 5-30 minutes)

Setting Up Email (Google Workspace)

MX Records:
@ → 1 ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.COM
@ → 5 ALT1.ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.COM
@ → 5 ALT2.ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.COM
@ → 10 ALT3.ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.COM
@ → 10 ALT4.ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.COM

TXT Record (SPF):
@ → v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com ~all

Domain Verification (SSL, Search Console)

Add a TXT record with the verification code provided by the service.

Troubleshooting

Nameservers Not Propagating

• Wait 24-48 hours after changing nameservers at registrar
• Use dig NS example.com to check current nameservers
• Verify with your registrar that changes were saved

DNS Records Not Resolving

• Check TTL — lower TTL (e.g., 300) for faster updates
• Verify record syntax (no trailing dots unless FQDN)
• Use dig A example.com to test resolution

Can't Add Domain

• Ensure domain is not already in another project
• Check that you have Owner/Admin role in the project
• Verify domain name format (no http:// prefix)