Domain Modes (Managed vs External)

When you add a website to nsin, you pick one of two modes. They decide how your domain connects to nsin and how much nsin does for you.

• Managed DNS — nsin runs your domain’s DNS for you. Easiest, most automatic.
• External DNS — you keep your DNS where it is now and just point it at nsin.

You can switch modes later from your domain settings.

Quick comparison

	Managed DNS	External DNS
Who runs your DNS	nsin	You (your current provider)
How you connect	Change your nameservers to nsin	Add A/CNAME records at your provider
Ownership check	Automatic, once nameservers point to nsin	Add a TXT record to verify
SSL certificate	Free & automatic (issued and renewed for you)	You upload your own certificate
Best for	Most people who want it simple	People who must keep DNS at their current provider

Tip

Not sure? Choose Managed DNS. It’s simpler and gives you free, automatic SSL.

Managed DNS

nsin takes care of your DNS completely. You point your domain’s nameservers to nsin, and from then on nsin handles records and security for you.

What you do:

1. Add your domain in the dashboard and choose Managed DNS.
2. nsin gives you two nameservers. Copy them.
3. At your domain provider, replace the old nameservers with nsin’s two. See Nameservers for step-by-step help.
4. Wait for it to take effect (usually minutes, up to 24–48 hours).

What you get:

• Your domain auto-activates once nsin sees the nameservers.
• A free SSL certificate is created and renewed automatically — nothing to buy or remember. See SSL Overview.
• You manage all your records inside nsin. See Managing DNS Records.

External DNS

You keep your DNS at your current provider (for example, another DNS service you already use) and simply point it at nsin. nsin sits in front as a proxy.

What you do:

1. Add your domain in the dashboard and choose External DNS.
2. Prove you own the domain: nsin gives you a TXT record (a host and a value). Add it at your DNS provider.
   • nsin checks for it automatically about every 30 minutes. You can also check manually (with a short 5-minute wait between checks).
   • You have a 3-day window to complete verification.
3. After you’re verified, add the records nsin gives you (an A or CNAME record) at your DNS provider, pointing to nsin.
4. Upload your SSL certificate: External DNS does not get automatic SSL. In the SSL section, upload your certificate and its private key, and pick which hostnames it covers.

Things to know:

• SSL is your job here — nsin can’t auto-issue or auto-renew it, so remember to renew your certificate before it expires.
• You manage your DNS records at your existing provider, not inside nsin.

How to tell which mode you’re in

Your domain shows a label in the dashboard:

• Managed DNS (blue label)
• External DNS (plain label)

Switching modes

You can change modes later in your domain settings. nsin will show a confirmation and tell you the next steps (new nameservers for Managed, or verification + your own SSL for External).

Common questions

Which mode should I pick? Managed DNS, unless you have a reason to keep DNS at your current provider.

Can I get free automatic SSL with External DNS? No. Automatic SSL only comes with Managed DNS. With External DNS you upload your own certificate.

I switched to External and my site shows “Not Secure”. Make sure you uploaded a valid certificate and its private key, and that it covers the hostname you’re visiting. See SSL Overview.