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DNS3 min
Setting Up Custom Nameservers (Glue Records) for Agencies
NS
NameSilo Staff10/7/2026
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To set up custom nameservers, you must register Glue Records at your domain registrar. Glue records bind your custom nameserver prefixes (like ns1.yourdomain.com) directly to your server's static IP addresses. Log into the NameSilo dashboard, navigate to the "Registered Name Servers" option under the DNS management page, and map your desired nameservers to your server IPs.
What Is a Glue Record?
A glue record solves a chicken-and-egg problem baked into DNS itself. If youragency.com uses ns1.youragency.com as its nameserver, resolving the domain requires first knowing the IP of ns1.youragency.com. But finding that IP normally means asking youragency.com's own nameservers, which is exactly what you're trying to find in the first place. This is a circular dependency, and without intervention, it would make the domain permanently unresolvable.
Glue records break the loop by storing the nameserver's IP address directly in the parent registry (the .com zone, in this example), alongside the nameserver's hostname. Resolvers get both pieces of information at once, skipping the circular lookup entirely.
Why It Matters: White-Labeling Your Infrastructure
For an agency running managed hosting, handing clients a nameserver that visibly belongs to a third-party host undercuts the unified brand experience you're selling. Custom nameservers like ns1.youragency.com and ns2.youragency.com present your own name on every DNS lookup instead, keeping your underlying infrastructure dependencies invisible to clients.
The Prerequisites
You'll need at least two static IPv4 addresses for redundancy, sourced from wherever you host your own DNS server infrastructure, along with DNS server software (BIND, PowerDNS, or similar) configured and actively running on those IPs.
Implementation Steps
Step 1: Obtain your DNS server IPv4 addresses. At least two are required for redundancy.
Step 2: Log into NameSilo, open Domain Manager, and select the domain that will host your nameservers.
Step 3: Click the blue globe icon to access DNS Manager.
Step 4: Scroll to "Registered Name Servers," click Manage, and add each host (e.g., ns1, ns2) paired with its corresponding IP address. This registers the actual glue records with the registry.
Step 5: Confirm your DNS server software is running and correctly configured to answer queries on those IPs, glue records only point traffic there, they don't run the server for you.
Step 6: Update any domain's nameservers, including this one, to point to your newly registered custom nameservers.
Common Mistakes
Adding an A record for ns1 in the local DNS zone but never registering the actual glue record: This is the most common and most confusing failure. An A record inside your own zone file only resolves once someone already knows how to reach your nameservers, it does nothing to solve the circular dependency itself. The glue record must be registered directly with the registry (Verisign, for .com) through your registrar's nameserver registration tool, not just added as a normal DNS record.
What This Means for You
Register and manage your custom nameservers directly through NameSilo's NameServer Manager. Agencies managing multiple client domains under one white-labeled brand should also review the Reseller Program.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a DNS glue record?
A registry-level entry pairing a nameserver's hostname with its IP address.
Why do I need custom nameservers?
To present your own brand instead of a third-party host on every DNS lookup.
How do I register a nameserver at NameSilo?
Domain Manager → DNS Management → Registered Name Servers → Manage.
Do I need dedicated IPs for custom nameservers?
Yes, at least two static IPs are required for the underlying DNS servers.
What is a circular DNS dependency?
When resolving a nameserver requires first resolving that same nameserver.
How long do glue records take to propagate?
Often up to 24-48 hours across the global DNS system.
Can I use custom nameservers for shared hosting?
The glue record itself is registrar-side; your DNS server software runs separately.
How does an agency white-label DNS?
By registering custom nameservers under their own domain via glue records.
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NameSilo StaffThe NameSilo staff of writers worked together on this post. It was a combination of efforts from our passionate writers that produce content to educate and provide insights for all our readers.
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