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Primary Name Server Not Listed At Parent

  • By SendBridge Team

  • Last update: Feb 17, 2024

What Is The Cause of "Primary Name Server Not Listed At Parent" Error?

When setting up a domain, it's crucial to ensure that all the pieces of the domain name system (DNS) puzzle fit together perfectly. One common issue that IT professionals might encounter is when the "Primary Name Server Not Listed At Parent". This means that the primary DNS server, which holds the authoritative records for the domain, isn't listed in the parent zone. This can lead to problems like your website not being accessible or email services failing.

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For example, let's say you have a domain example.com, and you've set up a DNS server to manage its records. If someone wants to visit your website, their browser needs to find out the IP address of example.com. It does this by asking the parent zone (.com in this case) for the name servers of example.com. However, if the parent zone doesn't list your primary DNS server, the browser won't know who to ask for the IP address, leading to a failure in resolving the domain.

Here's a simplified code example using the dig command to check the name servers listed at the parent zone:

dig NS example.com @a.gtld-servers.net

This command asks one of the .com top-level domain (TLD) servers (a.gtld-servers.net) for the name servers of example.com. If your primary server is not in the list, it's a sign of this issue.

To fix this problem, you need to update the records at your domain's registrar. This involves logging into your registrar's control panel and ensuring that the name server records there match the ones you've set up for your domain. It might look something like this in a control panel interface:

Name Server 1: ns1.example.com
Name Server 2: ns2.example.com

After updating these records, it can take some time for the changes to propagate across the internet due to DNS caching. It's also a good idea to check for any typos or errors in the name server addresses, as these can cause the issue to persist even after you've updated the records.

Test DNS records

The "Primary Name Server Not Listed At Parent" issue is a common but fixable problem in DNS configuration. By ensuring that your domain's name servers are correctly listed at the parent zone, you can avoid potential disruptions to your website and email services. Regular checks and updates are essential to maintaining a smooth and accessible online presence.