How to point a domain to hosting

Before you start, you need

• Access to where the domain is registered (Hostnali client area or another registrar).
• Your Hostnali hosting welcome email: it lists the nameservers and your server’s IP address.
• Your current DNS records written down, especially MX records if email is hosted elsewhere.

Method 1: change the nameservers (recommended)

Domain registered at Hostnali:

1. Client area → Domains → My Domains → your domain → Nameservers.
2. Choose custom nameservers, enter the two from your welcome email, save.

Domain registered elsewhere:

1. Log in at that registrar and open the domain’s nameserver or DNS settings.
2. Replace the nameservers with ours and save.

Your DNS is now managed in cPanel’s Zone Editor, and email can run on your hosting.

Method 2: add an A record

Use this when you want to keep DNS (and maybe email) where it is:

1. Open the DNS settings at your current DNS provider.
2. Edit the A record for the root (@) to your hosting’s IP address.
3. Add or edit www as a CNAME to your domain (or an A record to the same IP).
4. Leave MX records alone if email stays elsewhere.

Add the domain in cPanel

If it is your plan’s main domain, it is already set up. If it is a second website (Standard and higher plans), add it in cPanel under Domains so it gets its own folder. See how many websites per plan.

Check it worked

• Wait for propagation, usually a few hours (why).
• Open your domain: you should see your hosting’s default page or your site.
• Free SSL is issued automatically once the domain points to us; then https works.

Common problems

Problem	Fix
Old site still shows	Propagation; try mobile data or wait
“Not secure” warning	SSL is issued after DNS points to us; wait an hour
Email stopped	MX records were lost when nameservers changed; re-add them
Domain shows a parking page	Nameservers still point to the registrar’s parking

Stuck? Our team can do it with you over live chat, 24/7.