Handshake DNS

Walkthroughs for adding DNS records on Namebase

DNS Records on Handshake names

Handshake names use the same DNS format as ICANN domains. The only difference is the TLD Nameserver records are included in the blockchain. There are two type of DNS records.

On Chain Records

NS Records

These are used to identify the Server that provides the Off chain DNS records. You can check these records using a block explorer. To check the records for this example visit https://niami.io/domain/examplename

The format for these records is

Resource	Value
type	NS
ns	<NS>

For example

Resource	Value
type	NS
ns	ns.examplename.

GLUE4 & GLUE6 Records

These records are used to bind IPv4 and IPv6 addresses to Handshake domains. This is used in conjunction with NS records to point to a IP for the Nameserver.

The format for these records is

Resource	Value
type	GLUE4
ns	<NS>
address	<IPv4>

For example

Resource	Value
type	GLUE4
ns	ns.examplename.
address	45.79.95.228

DS Records

These records are used for DNSSEC and allows the Nameserver to provide proof that it has the authority to provide DNS records.

The format for these records is

Resource	Value
type	DS
keyTag	<KEYTAG>
algorithm	<ALGORITHM>
digestType	<DIGESTTYPE>
digest	<DIGESTVALUE>

For example

Resource	Value
type	DS
keyTag	7789
algorithm	8
digestType	2
digest	50e0f5c246f85d8d09f8f0c5be4ab3788c3b1cf97f04f47aee3c6343ad758ccd

TXT Records

These are used for storing arbitrary data. In some cases it is used to prove ownership of a domain.

The format for these records is

Resource	Value
type	TXT
text	<TEXT record>

For example

Resource	Value
type	TXT
text	This is an example TXT record

Off-Chain Records

These records are the same as ICANN domains. They are provided by the nameserver specified in the NS records on the chain. These records include (but not limited to): A, AAAA, CNAME, DS, MX, NS, TLSA, TXT.

Adding DNS records to domains in Namebase

On-Chain Records

GLUE4

To add a Nameserver using an IP address you need to use a GLUE4 record. For example, to add a nameserver record for GLUE4 with IP address 44.231.6.183 (this is the default Namebase nameserver) you would add the first line as below:

NS without GLUE4

To add a NS record to an existing domain's GLUE4 (or to point to an ICANN domain's A record) you need to add the nameserver in the Value field while leaving the Name field blank. This is shown in the below image.

DS Records

Adding a DS record to names in Namebase is very easy. Simply add the DS content in the Value field. This is shown in the image below.

TXT Records

Adding TXT records is as easy as typing the contents of the record. This is shown in the image below.

Off-Chain Records

To add Off-Chain records you must have at least 1 ns records pointing to 44.231.6.183

Common Records

Adding A, AAAA, CNAME, and ALIAS records to the TLD is quite easy. The below image shows the format in case you get stuck.

MX Records

MX records are a little bit more complicated. You need to supply the priority in the Value field as well as the Name of the email server. This is shown in the image below ("10" is the priority for "mail.examplename").