In this article, we’ll keep things simple and explain what an active DNS zone is and how it affects your domain name.
There are two main ways to point your domain name to your hosting plan:
- Using A records;
- Using NS (Nameserver) records.
Both methods will point your domain to the correct hosting server, but there’s an important difference between them.
You can find more details on how to point your domain name to WPX here.
The key difference between A Records and NS Records
The active DNS zone is determined by your domain’s NS (Nameserver) records. When you register a domain, the default nameservers usually point to your domain registrar, which means the DNS zone is managed there.
However, if you update the NS records to point to your hosting provider (like WPX), the active DNS zone moves to that provider instead.
In Summary:
- A records only point your domain to a specific server IP but don’t change where the DNS zone is managed.
- NS records define which provider manages your DNS zone—so changing them does change the active DNS zone.
What does an active DNS zone mean?
We’ve mentioned that the active DNS zone changes when you update your NS records—but what exactly does that mean?
The active DNS zone is where you manage all DNS records for your domain, such as MX, TXT, or CNAME records. Any changes made in this zone are applied globally and affect how your domain works across different services.
For example, if you want to use a mail service, you’ll need to add MX records to your active DNS zone. If they’re added elsewhere (in an inactive zone), the changes won’t work—your mail service won’t function correctly.
Many customers use Cloudflare, which requires updating your NS records to point to Cloudflare’s nameservers. When you do that, your domain’s active DNS zone moves to Cloudflare.
As a result, all DNS changes—like adding or editing records—must be done from your Cloudflare account. If you make changes elsewhere, they won’t have any effect.
You can check our guide on how to point your website to WPX from Cloudflare.
How to check where your domain’s DNS Zone is and what Nameservers it uses
How to check what Nameservers your domain is using:
- Use an online DNS tool.
- Type your domain name (like example.com).
- Look for the NS (Nameservers) section — it will show you which service (like Cloudflare, WPX, or your domain registrar) is managing your DNS.
How to know where your DNS zone is:
The DNS zone is located wherever your Nameservers are pointing.
- If the nameservers are something like
ns1.wpx.net— the DNS zone is managed at WPX. - If they’re like
example.ns.cloudflare.com - If they’re something like
ns.yourregistrar.com— the DNS zone is managed by your domain registrar or possibly another hosting provider.
Have more questions? Contact the WPX Support Team through the live chat widget in the bottom-right corner, and they’ll assist you promptly, typically within 30 seconds.