When you connect a domain, C Building first looks at where the domain's DNS is, that is, its nameservers. You add the records wherever the DNS is, which isn't necessarily where you bought the domain. For example, a domain bought at HKDNR with its DNS on Cloudflare gets its records at Cloudflare.
The records to add (type, name, value) are the ones listed on the card when you connect the domain, so this guide gives no fixed values. Use the record types exactly as the card shows them; if a name already has an old record, edit or delete it first, then add what the card lists.
When this guide applies
Only when the domain's nameservers are *.hkdnr.net.hk, such as ns5.hkdnr.net.hk and ns6.hkdnr.net.hk, or ns5.hkirc.net.hk and ns6.hkirc.net.hk (HKDNR's DNS). If they belong to another company, add the records there.
HKDNR DNS Hosting is only for .hk and .香港 domains registered with HKDNR; domains under the Old Contract may not be able to use it.
Adding the records at HKDNR
Read this first: HKDNR does not accept host names that start with a symbol, so it refuses the card's TXT record whose host starts with "_". In that case, see "Want C Building to manage your DNS? Change the nameservers" below, or point the nameservers at another DNS provider (such as Cloudflare) and add the records there.
- Log in at hkdnr.hk.
- Select "Manage" on your domain and choose "DNS Hosting".
- If asked to start DNS Hosting, select "Yes", tick the box to accept the terms and select "Proceed".
- For each record on the card, choose its type as the card shows, enter its host and value, and select "Submit".
Things to know
- Turning on DNS Hosting moves the domain's DNS to HKDNR. If e-mail or another site uses your current DNS, copy those records first and add them again at HKDNR.
- HKDNR DNS Hosting also does not support setting SPF, DKIM or DMARC e-mail records.
- HKDNR DNS Hosting is free.
How long it takes
HKDNR's help doesn't say how long new records take to work.
These steps follow HKDNR's FAQ: DNS setting, applying for DNS Hosting.
Once the records are in, C Building checks them automatically. There's no need to come back and let us know.
Want C Building to manage your DNS? Change the nameservers
If you'd rather not add records yourself, C Building can manage the domain's DNS instead: choose that on the card when you connect the domain, then change the domain's nameservers to ns1.cbuilding.net, ns2.cbuilding.net, ns3.cbuilding.net and ns4.cbuilding.net. After that there are no records to add; the website connects by itself. Only do this if you choose to.
Nameservers are changed where the domain is registered. The steps below are for a domain registered at HKDNR; if it is registered somewhere else, change them there.
Move your e-mail records first: After the change, the records at HKDNR (e-mail records included) are no longer used. If the domain receives e-mail, read Before changing nameservers: e-mail records and DNSSEC first.
- Log in at hkdnr.hk.
- Select "DNS" on your domain.
- Replace the current name servers with ns1.cbuilding.net, ns2.cbuilding.net, ns3.cbuilding.net and ns4.cbuilding.net. If only two fit, the first two are enough.
- Save the change.
- It is free under the latest HKDNR Registration Agreement; a domain on an Old Contract may pay HK$200 per change and may need documents.
- HKDNR says name server changes take effect the same day.
- If you entered something wrong, submit another change right away; it takes effect within several hours.
These steps follow HKDNR's FAQ: changing name servers.