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Why won't setting a CNAME DNS record for the domain apex work? Question
I am setting up a domain that uses a CNAME record so that is hosted on the same server as another site. I seem to be able to set up the www subdomain just fine with a CNAME but I'm having trouble with bare domain name (where there is no subdomain at the domain apex).
Desired records for mydomain.example
-
@CNAMEtootherdomain.example -
wwwCNAMEtootherdomain.example -
@MXtomail.myemailhost.example
I've now tried to set this up with several DNS hosts. Most won't even allow me to use a CNAME for the domain apex. I did find one that allows it, and it seems to kinda work, but now email for my domain doesn't get delivered properly.
Is it even possible to use a CNAME for the domain apex? It doesn't seem to work for me.
1 answer
DNS specifications say that CNAME records can't co-exist with other records at the same level. That precludes using a CNAME at the apex because there are other record types that have to be attached to the apex.
Most DNS providers won't let you put a CNAME at the apex because their DNS software isn't compatible with it. Some providers may let you do it, but other things (like email delivery) may subtly break.
An A record that points your domain apex to an IP address works at the domain apex. You should prefer to use an A record if you can point to an IP address.
Some DNS hosts (like Namecheap and Route 53) have a workaround to point the domain apex to some other domain. You can specify an ALIAS or ANAME record type and put a name into it just like a CNAME. These providers periodically look up the IP address from that name and serve it as an A record. You can think of it as a proxied A record. Unfortunately not all DNS providers have support for this.
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