Set Up Your Own Domain for a Game Server – DNS Guide

With your own domain, you connect your game server through an easy-to-remember address like mc.my-domain.com instead of sending players an IP with a port. Technically, you usually need an A record pointing to the server IP and, depending on the game, optionally an SRV record for a convenient connection name without a visible port.

When Your Own Domain Makes Sense

A domain is worthwhile if your server should be reachable permanently, several services should be separated cleanly, or you want to use a recognizable community address. For public Minecraft, Rust, Valheim, V Rising, or voice servers, a clear subdomain looks more professional than a pure numeric address.

Typical examples are:

• mc.my-domain.com for Minecraft
• rust.my-domain.com for Rust
• valheim.my-domain.com for Valheim
• voice.my-domain.com for TeamSpeak

At game-serverhosting, this is not about changing brands or using a free replacement platform, but about controllable, paid multi-game hosting with transparent server management, traceable operating processes, and support when DNS or reachability does not work as expected.

If you have not prepared your own domain yet, the guide Connect your own domain to your game server is a useful additional foundation. For the specific general process, you can also use Connect your own domain for your game server.

Requirements

You need access to your domain’s DNS management, the current server IP, and the port of your game server. The IP and port are normally shown in the management area of your hosting package. If your provider supplies a fixed IP, setup is easier because you do not have to adjust DNS records every time the IP changes.

Important: DNS only forwards names to targets. DNS does not start a server, open a firewall, or replace correct game configuration. If the direct connection by IP and port does not work, a domain will not solve the problem.

Option 1: Free Subdomain

At game-serverhosting, you can use a subdomain in this format:

your-name.game-serverhosting.com

This option is practical if you do not own a domain or want to start quickly. The subdomain is assigned to the server during ordering or setup. After that, check in the panel which address is shown for your service and test the connection directly in the game client.

Option 2: Use Your Own Domain

If you own a domain such as my-domain.com, create a subdomain at your DNS provider. For game servers, a subdomain is usually cleaner than the main domain because the main domain is often already used for a website, email, or other services.

Create an A Record

An A record points a name to an IPv4 address. For mc.my-domain.com, the configuration looks like this:

Type:  A
Name:  mc (results in mc.my-domain.com)
Value: <Your server IP>
TTL:   3600

With some DNS providers, the field is not called Name, but Host, Subdomain, or Record name. Enter only mc there if the zone is already my-domain.com. If you accidentally enter mc.my-domain.com into a field that appends the domain automatically, it can become mc.my-domain.com.my-domain.com.

The TTL 3600 means that resolvers may cache the record for up to 3600 seconds. A lower value can help with migrations, but it is not freely selectable at every provider.

SRV Record for Minecraft Without a Port

An SRV record can describe service, protocol, target host, and port. For Minecraft Java, this is useful if players should enter only mc.my-domain.com instead of mc.my-domain.com:25565.

Type:     SRV
Name:     _minecraft._tcp.mc
Priority: 0
Weight:   5
Port:     25565
Target:   mc.my-domain.com
TTL:      3600

Make sure that the target of the SRV record is a hostname that itself resolves via an A record. Do not enter an IP address directly there. If your server does not run on port 25565, replace the port with the actual Minecraft port from your server panel.

DNS Providers

The table is a practical classification, not a performance guarantee. What matters is that your DNS provider reliably supports A records and, if needed, SRV records.

Important With Cloudflare

If you use Cloudflare, the DNS record for the game server must be set to DNS-only. In the Cloudflare interface, this is the gray cloud. The orange proxy is intended for HTTP and HTTPS web traffic, not for normal game server connections.

Cloudflare explains in the official DNS documentation that records for game servers and other non-HTTP protocols must be set to DNS-only because the HTTP proxy does not forward such connections appropriately: Documentation at developers.cloudflare.com

In short:

• Use DNS-only for game servers
• Use Proxy active only for suitable websites or web applications
• If there are connection problems, first check whether the cloud is gray

Assess Propagation Realistically

DNS changes can become visible with a delay depending on TTL, resolver, and provider. As a rough guideline: changes are often visible after a few minutes, but in unfavorable cases it can take significantly longer. The old statement “up to 48 hours” is useful as a cautious maximum frame, but it is not a promise for every DNS provider and every resolver.

Do not change several things at the same time when searching for an error. First set the A record, wait for resolution, and then add the SRV record.

Check the Result

First check whether the subdomain points to the correct IP:

# Check A record
nslookup mc.my-domain.com

For the Minecraft SRV record, also check:

# Check SRV record
nslookup -type=SRV _minecraft._tcp.mc.my-domain.com

The result should show the target host mc.my-domain.com and the expected port. Then test the connection in the game. If the connection via domain fails but works via IP and port, the error is very likely in DNS, the SRV record, or Cloudflare proxy status.

For game-related setup steps, the appropriate guides can help further, for example Rent and set up a Rust server or Rent and set up a Valheim server.

Troubleshooting

The Domain Points to the Wrong IP

Check whether the A record really contains the current server IP from the game-serverhosting panel. Old records, duplicate A records, or an accidentally set CNAME can lead to contradictory results.

Players Still Have to Enter the Port

Then the SRV record is probably missing for Minecraft, the record name is wrong, or the target host does not resolve correctly. Use nslookup -type=SRV to check whether the record is publicly visible.

Cloudflare Shows an Orange Cloud

Set the game server record to DNS-only. The normal Cloudflare proxy is intended for web traffic. For game protocols, you need direct DNS resolution to your server.

The Change Is Visible to You but Not to Others

DNS caches differ. Test through another network or wait for the TTL. Avoid frantic multiple changes because otherwise it becomes difficult to see which change actually had an effect.

Verification, Limits, and Safe Rollback

The guide “Set Up Your Own Domain for a Game Server – DNS Guide” applies to the server type described in the article and the version state visible at the time of verification. Menu names, available versions, mod or plugin compatibility, and required resources may differ after updates. Therefore, do not transfer any values to another game, loader, or server version without checking them first.

Before making changes to the world, savegame, configuration, or extensions, create a backup of the affected files. Then change only one related step and verify it with the same client and server version that you want to play with later.

A successful individual test is not a performance or availability guarantee. World size, mods, plugins, player count, network path, and simultaneous load can change the result. Document the version, change, and test result so you can understand later deviations.

FAQ

Do I Absolutely Need My Own Domain for My Game Server?

No. You can also use an IP with port or a provided subdomain. Your own domain is mainly more convenient and better for a recognizable community address.

Is an A Record Enough for Every Game Server?

For many games, an A record plus port is enough. Minecraft Java can additionally use an SRV record so players can connect without a visible port.

May I Actively Proxy My Game Server Through Cloudflare?

For normal game server connections, you should set the DNS record to DNS-only. The usual Cloudflare proxy handles HTTP/HTTPS web traffic and is not suitable for many game protocols.

Why Doesn’t the Domain Work Immediately?

DNS records are cached. Depending on TTL, resolver, and provider, it can take minutes to significantly longer until all clients see the new configuration.

What Do I Do if the Connection Works by IP but Not by Domain?

Then the server itself is reachable. Check A record, SRV record, Cloudflare status, and typos in the hostname. Only once these values are correct is further troubleshooting in the game client worthwhile.