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Understand What DNS Is, Its Record Types and How It Works with 1-grid

Demystify the internet’s routing phonebook to confidently manage domain names, international registries, and mailbox delivery channels. 

DNS (Domain Name System) is the foundational global framework that translates human-readable domain names, such as your 1-grid domain, into numerical IP addresses that computers use to communicate. Think of it as the ultimate distributed digital phonebook of the internet. Every website, email service, and cloud platform depends on this technology to route web visitors quickly and efficiently. Without DNS, you would have to memorise complex numerical strings (like 192.168.1.50) just to load a webpage. This guide will help you understand how the global DNS architecture operates, demystify critical record types, and help you navigate updates confidently on your 1-grid Customer Zone and Zone Editor in your Control Panel. 

Understanding DNS, Its Record Types and How It Works | 1-grid Knowledge Base
Table of Contents

Before You Begin 

Before making any updates to your active zone records, ensure you understand the operational baseline: 

  • The Authoritative Nameserver: Every domain name points to a specific set of primary nameservers. These nameservers host your domain’s DNS Zone File, which is the master record book containing all your custom structural routing entries. 
  • Management Authority: If your domain utilises 1-grid nameservers, and your hosting package allows for DNS Self-Management, you hold full administrative authority to edit, add, or drop zones instantly using the DNS Zone Editor inside your hosting control panel. Updating your nameservers changes where your DNS zone is managed and will affect website and email services. 

Where is DNS Stored? 

DNS is not stored in a single centralised database. It is a globally distributed system made up of thousands of root, TLD, and authoritative servers that constantly communicate with one another. This decentralised, distributed layout provides massive network redundancy and reliability. If an individual server node goes down somewhere in the world, alternative regional backup servers step in immediately, ensuring your digital platforms remain continuously accessible without data loss. 

An Overview of How DNS Works 

When a customer attempts to look up your digital business assets online, a rapid multi-step network handshake executes within milliseconds behind the scenes: 

  1. The Request: A user types a domain name like yourdomain.co.za into their browser address bar. 
  1. The Resolver Inquiry: The user’s device sends a DNS request to a local DNS Resolver, typically managed by their local Internet Service Provider (ISP) like Telkom, Vodacom, or MTN. 
  1. The Root Query: If the resolver doesn’t have the answer cached, it contacts a global Root Nameserver to locate the master coordinates for the specific Top-Level Domain (TLD) extension, such as .co.za, .com, or .org. 
  1. The TLD Response: The TLD nameserver identifies the domain and responds with the specific Authoritative Nameserver addresses assigned to that domain name. 
  1. The Zone Extraction: The resolver queries the authoritative nameservers (such as 1-grid’s nameservers), extracts the exact matching destination IP address from the domain’s zone file, and passes it back to the browser. 
  1. The Final Delivery: The browser uses that machine-readable IP address to connect to the hosting server and loads the website layout seamlessly. 
  1. The Local Cache: Your device temporarily stores this DNS information in its local cache storage to instantly speed up your future visits. 

The Global Governance: International Registries 

Several international organisations manage and maintain Top-Level Domains (TLDs) across the internet. These registries operate under strict global naming and safety policies established by ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers). Well-known automated registries include: 

  • ZADNA: The local domain authority overseeing the South African namespace extensions (like .co.za, .org.za, .web.za). 
  • Verisign: Manages the core global .com and .net extensions. 
  • Public Interest Registry (PIR): Oversees the non-profit .org domain space. 
  • CentralNic & Identity Digital: Manage a wide variety of modern, descriptive TLDs and boutique extensions. 

Common DNS Record Types and Their Uses 

To prevent configuration errors, review the standard alphanumeric layout formats utilised inside master zone tables: 

  • A Record (Address): Maps a domain or subdomain directly to an IPv4 address. (e.g., Pointing your primary domain name to your 1-grid web hosting server hardware). 
  • AAAA Record: Maps a domain name string natively to an IPv6 address for modern network infrastructures. 
  • CNAME Record (Canonical Name): Maps an alias name to an absolute master domain name. (e.g., Routing www.yourdomain.co.za back to the root yourdomain.co.za target layout). 
  • MX Record (Mail Exchanger): Designates the exact mail servers responsible for receiving your domain’s email traffic. These must always point to a hostname text string, never a raw IP address, and utilise priority integers. 
  • TXT Record (Text): Carries unformatted text metadata data strings. This framework is heavily utilised for domain ownership verification loops and essential email authentication configurations. 
  • SRV Record (Service): Defines the specific hostname and port coordinates for advanced protocols, such as custom VoIP, instant messaging, or specialised unified communications platforms. 

Important DNS Settings for Hosting and Email 

A single broken entry row inside your zone files can take your brand offline or block customer contact avenues. Many hosting and email issues can often be traced back directly to incorrect DNS configurations. Pay special attention to these primary clusters: 

Website Hosting DNS 

Your public web pages rely on accurate A Records or CNAME records pointing directly to your host’s destination IP addresses. If these indicators feature a typo or point to outdated server spaces, browsers will throw immediate loading drops or site unavailable faults. 

Email Deliverability DNS 

To protect your brand from fraud, secure your mail delivery channels using advanced TXT verification structures: 

  • SPF (Sender Policy Framework): A specific TXT text string that specifies exactly which mail server IP addresses are authorised to dispatch outbound emails on behalf of your domain name. This blocks spammers from forging your address. 
  • DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail): Adds an electronic cryptographic key signature to your outgoing mail headers, proving to external receivers that messages weren’t tampered with mid-route. 
  • DMARC: Dictates explicit alignment rules telling recipient servers how to handle inbound mail items that fail SPF or DKIM validation challenges. 

Understanding DNS Propagation and Caching 

When you apply a modification to a zone entry, the update does not update worldwide instantly. Local ISP routers across South Africa and the globe cache old lookups to reduce network traffic and improve loading speed. 

This background data synchronisation timeline is called DNS Propagation and typically takes between a few minutes and 48 hours to fully cycle. You can actively track the global update visibility curves in real-time using free diagnostic platforms like dnschecker.org or whatsmydns.net. 

Advanced Security: What is DNSSEC? 

As cyber threats evolve, basic DNS can be vulnerable to attacks where malicious entities intercept requests and spoof records to redirect your traffic to fake websites. To combat this, DNSSEC (Domain Name System Security Extensions) adds an advanced cryptographic layer of protection to your domain’s records. DNSSEC signs your records with digital signatures, allowing browsers to verify that the DNS data received is authentic and has not been altered by an attacker. 

Best Practices and Common Pitfalls 

  • Never drop or delete an existing zone row line item unless you are completely certain that the underlying server asset or tracking plugin is fully retired. 
  • Avoid creating duplicate, overlapping records for a single zone block (such as deploying two identical MX entries with mismatched destination values), which triggers immediate server delivery failures. 
  • Set a low, temporary TTL (Time to Live) value (e.g., 300 seconds) a day before executing a site migration so network caching expires fast, then widen it back out to 3600 post-migration to save server lookup resources. 
  • Always clean out stale validation records left behind by past email platforms or legacy web analytics systems to avoid network cross-talk. 

You’re Ready! 

Your foundational understanding of the internet’s routing framework is complete. Distinguishing between root nodes, authoritative zone logs, email authentication strings, and propagation delays gives you total control to securely manage your web hosting footprint. 

Log In to Client Portal & Edit DNS Zones Now

Need Help? 

If your public website pages refuse to load after a nameserver shift, or if your business mailboxes drop inbound deliveries due to validation conflicts, contact us. Our Support Team is ready to provide guidance and support.  

Before logging a support ticket, please prepare: 

  • Your primary domain name and active server profile identification. 
  • A descriptive summary log of the exact DNS adjustments you applied. 
  • The complete error warning blocks or bounce-back email notices printing inside your console. 
  • A screenshot of your DNS Zone Editor dashboard view showing the current row metrics. 
Updated on September 10, 2026
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