DNS and Reverse DNS (rDNS) Setup for Your VPS

This guide explains how to set up DNS and reverse DNS (rDNS) for your VPS. Proper DNS configuration is essential for hosting websites and sending email.

What is DNS?

DNS (Domain Name System) translates human-readable domain names into IP addresses. For example, when someone visits example.com, DNS resolves it to your VPS IP address like 66.186.37.50.

What is Reverse DNS (rDNS)?

Reverse DNS does the opposite: it maps an IP address back to a domain name. For example, looking up 66.186.37.50 might return mail.example.com. This is especially important if you plan to send email from your VPS, as mail servers check rDNS to verify the sender.

Setting Up DNS (A and AAAA Records)

DNS records are configured at your domain registrar or DNS provider (e.g., Cloudflare, Namecheap, GoDaddy). This is not done in VirtFusion.

A record (IPv4) -- Points your domain to your VPS IPv4 address:

• Type: A
• Name: @ (for the root domain) or www (for a subdomain)
• Value: Your VPS IPv4 address (e.g., 66.186.37.50)

AAAA record (IPv6) -- Points your domain to your VPS IPv6 address:

• Type: AAAA
• Name: @ or www
• Value: Your VPS IPv6 address (e.g., 2602:2f3:XY00:XXXX::1)

After creating records, allow time for DNS propagation. This usually takes a few minutes but can take up to 24-48 hours in some cases.

Test your DNS records:

# Check A record
dig +short yourdomain.com

# Check AAAA record
dig +short AAAA yourdomain.com

# Alternative using nslookup
nslookup yourdomain.com

Setting Up Reverse DNS (rDNS / PTR Record)

Reverse DNS is configured in the VirtFusion control panel (not at your domain registrar).

1. Log in to cp.vps.ezscale.tech
2. Select your server and go to the Network tab
3. Click on your IP address
4. Set the rDNS / PTR record to your desired hostname (e.g., mail.yourdomain.com)
5. Save the change

Important: The hostname you set as your rDNS must have a matching A record pointing back to the same IP address. This is called forward-confirmed reverse DNS (FCrDNS) and is required by most mail servers. For example, if you set rDNS to mail.yourdomain.com, then mail.yourdomain.com must have an A record pointing to your VPS IP.

Test your rDNS:

# Using dig
dig -x YOUR_IP_ADDRESS

# Using nslookup
nslookup YOUR_IP_ADDRESS

Why rDNS Matters for Email

If you are running a mail server on your VPS, proper rDNS is essential. Most email providers (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, etc.) will reject or spam-flag emails from IP addresses that:

• Have no rDNS record set
• Have an rDNS record that does not match the sending domain
• Have an rDNS record that does not resolve back to the same IP (no FCrDNS)

Common Issues

• rDNS not updating -- Changes can take a few minutes to propagate. Wait 5-10 minutes and test again.
• Mismatched forward/reverse records -- Make sure the hostname in your rDNS has an A record pointing back to the same IP. Both directions must match.
• DNS propagation delays -- If you just created your A record, wait for it to propagate before setting rDNS. Use dig +short yourdomain.com to confirm the A record is live.
• Cannot set rDNS -- If the option is not available in VirtFusion, contact support and we will set it for you.