Pointing your domain to a cloud provider like DigitalOcean or AWS is slightly different from connecting to a website builder. Because these platforms are for developers, they often give you more control, but require more precise setup.
At Nixzoehost, we recommend two ways to handle this: the "Full Control" method (Nameservers) or the "Specific Pointing" method (A Records).
Connecting to DigitalOcean
DigitalOcean prefers that you use their nameservers so you can manage your DNS records directly from their "Networking" dashboard.
Method 1: DigitalOcean Nameservers (Recommended)
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Log in to your Nixzoehost Client Area.
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Go to Domains > My Domains > Manage > Nameservers.
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Select "Use custom nameservers" and enter:
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ns1.digitalocean.com -
ns2.digitalocean.com -
ns3.digitalocean.com
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In your DigitalOcean Dashboard, go to Networking > Domains and add your domain name to link it to your Droplet.
Method 2: Pointing via A Record
Use this if you want to keep your DNS and Email management at Nixzoehost.
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In your Nixzoehost Advanced DNS tab, create an A Record.
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Host:
@ -
Value: [Your DigitalOcean Droplet IP Address] (e.g.,
123.456.78.90).
Connecting to AWS (Amazon Web Services)
AWS is vast, but most users are connecting their domain to an EC2 Instance, an S3 Bucket, or Route 53.
Option A: Using Route 53 (Full Integration)
If you are running a complex application on AWS, you should use Route 53 for your DNS.
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In the AWS Console, search for Route 53 and create a "Hosted Zone" for your domain.
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AWS will provide you with four unique nameservers (e.g.,
ns-123.awsdns-01.com). -
Log in to Nixzoehost, go to your domain's Nameservers tab, and enter all four AWS nameservers.
Option B: Pointing to an Elastic IP (Simple Setup)
If you just have a simple website running on an EC2 Instance:
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Go to your Nixzoehost Advanced DNS tab.
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Create an A Record for the
@host. -
Value: Enter your AWS Elastic IP Address.
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Note: Always use an Elastic IP in AWS, otherwise your IP will change if you restart your server, breaking your domain connection!
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Which method should you choose?
| Feature | Nameserver Method | A Record Method |
| Best For | Developers who want to manage DNS inside AWS/DO. | Users who want to keep Email/DNS at Nixzoehost. |
| Setup Speed | Faster initial setup. | More granular control. |
| Propagation | Can take up to 24 hours. | Usually takes 14 hours. |
A Pro-Tip for Cloud Users
When pointing to a cloud provider, don't forget the WWW record!
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If you point your "root" domain (
yourdomain.com) using an A Record, make sure to also create a CNAME forwwwthat points to@or your server address. This ensures your site loads regardless of how the user types it.
