Point a domain name (DNS)

Pointing a domain means creating a DNS record that maps a name (play.example.com) to your server’s IP. Players then type the name instead of the raw IP.

Cause / The problem

A numeric IP is hard to remember and share. On top of that, switching servers brings a new IP, which breaks every link you have handed out. A domain name stays stable as long as the DNS is kept up to date.

Solution

1. Pick the right record type:
   • A: maps a name to an IPv4 (the most common case). E.g. play.example.com → 203.0.113.42.
   • AAAA: same thing for an IPv6.
   • CNAME: maps a name to another name (useful to point at a managed service). You cannot put a CNAME at the domain root.
2. Get your server’s IP from the panel or the onesubnet delivery email.
3. Add the record at your registrar or DNS provider:
   • Type A, name/host play, value 203.0.113.42, default TTL.
4. Wait for propagation: a few minutes to a few hours depending on the TTL and intermediate resolvers. Speed it up by lowering the TTL ahead of a change.
5. Verify the resolution:

   dig play.example.com
   # or
   nslookup play.example.com

   The returned IP must match your server’s.
6. For an already-taken subdomain: use another subdomain (e.g. mc.example.com) rather than overwriting an existing record.

Common errors: forgetting the trailing . in some DNS panels, mixing up the IPv4 and IPv6 addresses, and pointing at an internal IP instead of the public one.