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Question

How to really set up reverse DNS for a droplet.

In order to have one’s emails processed correctly, a valid reverse DNS entry is needed. Supposedly, a reverse DNS entry is automatically created using the name that is given to a droplet, and when you change it, the new name is associated with the IP address. In doing an “nslookup” on the IP address for my droplet, the following message is displayed:

** server can’t find 000.000.000.000.in-addr.arpa.: NXDOMAIN

I do have my own DNS servers where foreward DNS for the droplet resides. What is the correct way to have a valid reverse DNS entry created?

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JonsJava • July 1, 2015

Are you sure you’re doing the NS Lookup correctly?

Here’s an example:

nslookup
Default Server:  8.8.8.8
Address:  8.8.8.8

> set type=PTR
> 1.2.3.4
Non-authoritative answer:
Server:  8.8.8.8
Address:  8.8.8.8

4.3.2.1.in-addr.arpa     name = example.com

As you can see, I do this:

set type=PTR

EDIT I didn’t really answer your question, did I?

If you did the lookup correctly, and the PTR isn’t reflecting for that IP address, it will either be due to your DNS caching server, or an issue at DO. If you’re sure it’s not working (check here), open a ticket with DO support.

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