NS Tools

NS Tools Blog

Tips, guides & insights

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How-To Guides

How to Check What Nameservers a Domain Is Using

Find any domain's nameservers in seconds with dig, nslookup, PowerShell, WHOIS or a direct TLD query, and learn why different tools sometimes disagree.

Oct 17, 20267 min read
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DNS Basics

What Are Nameservers and How Do They Work?

Nameservers are the backbone of DNS. Learn what they do, how they translate domain names to IP addresses, and why they matter for your website.

Mar 20, 20267 min read
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How-To Guides

How to Change Nameservers: A Step-by-Step Guide

Changing nameservers is one of the most common DNS tasks. This guide walks you through the process for popular registrars like GoDaddy, Namecheap, and Google Domains.

Mar 18, 20268 min read
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DNS Basics

DNS Propagation Explained: Why Changes Take Time

Updated your DNS records but nothing changed? Learn what DNS propagation is, why it takes time, and how to speed it up.

Mar 15, 20266 min read
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How-To Guides

How to Speed Up DNS Lookup for Faster Websites

Slow DNS lookups add latency to every page load. Learn practical techniques to reduce DNS resolution time and improve your website speed.

Mar 15, 20267 min read
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How-To Guides

IPv6 DNS Configuration: A Complete Guide

IPv6 adoption is accelerating. Learn how to configure AAAA records, dual-stack DNS, and ensure your domain works seamlessly with IPv6.

Mar 13, 20268 min read
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DNS Basics

A Record vs CNAME: When to Use Which

A records and CNAME records are the two most common DNS record types. Learn the key differences and when to use each one.

Mar 12, 20266 min read
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DNS Basics

Email Deliverability and DNS Records: What You Need to Know

Your DNS records directly impact whether your emails land in the inbox or spam folder. Learn which records matter and how to configure them correctly.

Mar 11, 20268 min read
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How-To Guides

How to Set Up MX Records for Email

MX records control where your domain receives email. Learn how to configure them correctly for Gmail, Outlook, and other providers.

Mar 10, 20267 min read
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How-To Guides

SPF, DKIM, and DMARC Setup Guide: Protect Your Email Domain

A practical, step-by-step guide to setting up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records to authenticate your email and prevent spoofing.

Mar 9, 202610 min read
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How-To Guides

Cloudflare DNS Setup Guide: From Zero to Protected

Cloudflare offers free DNS hosting with DDoS protection and blazing-fast performance. Here is how to set it up for your domain.

Mar 8, 20269 min read
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DNS Basics

Subdomain vs Subdirectory for SEO: Which Is Better?

Should your blog live at blog.example.com or example.com/blog? This guide explains the DNS and SEO implications of each approach.

Mar 7, 20267 min read
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How-To Guides

Domain Transfer Checklist: Everything You Need to Know

Transferring a domain between registrars? Follow this comprehensive checklist to avoid downtime and lost email.

Mar 5, 20268 min read
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DNS Basics

How CDN and DNS Work Together to Speed Up Your Site

CDNs rely on DNS to route users to the nearest edge server. Learn how CDN DNS integration works, from CNAME setup to anycast routing.

Mar 5, 20268 min read
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DNS Basics

DNS Load Balancing Explained: How It Works and When to Use It

DNS load balancing distributes traffic across multiple servers using DNS responses. Learn the techniques, benefits, and limitations.

Mar 3, 20267 min read
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Security

DNS Security: DNSSEC Explained

DNSSEC adds a layer of trust to DNS by digitally signing records. Learn what it is, how it works, and whether you should enable it.

Mar 2, 20268 min read
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DNS Basics

Reverse DNS Lookup: What It Is and Why It Matters

Reverse DNS maps IP addresses back to domain names. Learn how PTR records work and why reverse DNS matters for email, security, and troubleshooting.

Mar 1, 20266 min read
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Troubleshooting

How to Fix DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN

Getting the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error? This guide covers all the causes and fixes, from simple browser fixes to DNS configuration issues.

Feb 28, 20267 min read
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Security

DNS over HTTPS (DoH) Explained: Privacy, Security, and Setup

DNS over HTTPS encrypts your DNS queries to prevent eavesdropping and manipulation. Learn how DoH works and how to enable it.

Feb 27, 20267 min read
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Comparisons

Best Free DNS Providers Compared (2026)

Looking for free DNS hosting? We compare the top free DNS providers including Cloudflare, Hurricane Electric, and Hetzner on speed, features, and reliability.

Feb 25, 20269 min read
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Troubleshooting

Common DNS Errors and How to Fix Them

From NXDOMAIN to SERVFAIL, DNS errors can be confusing. This guide explains the most common DNS errors, their causes, and step-by-step fixes.

Feb 25, 20269 min read