When to CNAME records?

[snowweb]

DirectAdmin does not appear to set up any CNAME records for new domains, but I noticed in the help manual here

http://admin.site-helper.com/dnsadmin.html

that it says,

CNAME records make it possible to access your domain through ftp.yourdomain.com, mail.yourdomain.com, etc. Without a proper CNAME record, you will not be able to connect to your server using such addresses.

Personally, I only just read that and I don't have any CNAME records on any of my domains and haven't noticed any problems. My ftp. and mail. etc, only have 'A' records, but I want to do it right.

Therefore can some clear this up for me, should I create CNAME records or not for ftp., mail., etc?

Regards

pete

 

[chriswb]

CNAME records are less efficient than A records. It's always best to use an A record if the option is available to you. Generally, the only time you'll use a CNAME is when you're using an aspect of your domain with an external host, email service, and etc.

 

[snowweb]

CNAME records are less efficient than A records. It's always best to use an A record if the option is available to you. Generally, the only time you'll use a CNAME is when you're using an aspect of your domain with an external host, email service, and etc.

Thanks Chris, for clarifying this for me.

I'm of the opinion that this information should replace the paragraph I quoted in the manual, since I clearly can connect to my server without a CNAME record!

Thanks again Chris

Regards, pete

 

[nikdahl]

CNAMEs can also be helpful when you have a lot of different names that are going to the same address. You can assign the IP to a single A record, and then assign all the rest CNAMEs to that A record, that way, if you IP changes, you only have to update the one record.

But of course, this assumes you don't know how to use find/replace.

Thanks Chris, for clarifying this for me.

I'm of the opinion that this information should replace the paragraph I quoted in the manual, since I clearly can connect to my server without a CNAME record!

Thanks again Chris

Regards, pete

 

[snowweb]

CNAMEs can also be helpful when you have a lot of different names that are going to the same address. You can assign the IP to a single A record, and then assign all the rest CNAMEs to that A record, that way, if you IP changes, you only have to update the one record.

But of course, this assumes you don't know how to use find/replace.

Sorry for delay! Thanks for the info. I think I finally understand

pete