A glue record is an address record (A or AAAA) for a nameserver that is published in the parent zone, usually at the registry, alongside the NS delegation. It exists to break a circular dependency: a resolver cannot look up ns1.example.com without first asking the nameservers of example.com.
Why it matters
When a domain uses nameservers under its own name, the delegation alone is not enough. The .com servers must hand out the IP of ns1.example.com together with the referral, or resolution fails. If the glue is missing or stale, the whole domain can go dark even though your zone is correct.
Example
$ dig +norecurse @a.gtld-servers.net example.com NS
;; AUTHORITY SECTION:
example.com. 172800 IN NS ns1.example.com.
;; ADDITIONAL SECTION:
ns1.example.com. 172800 IN A 203.0.113.53The ADDITIONAL section carries the glue. You set it through your registrar, often labeled "host records" or "child nameservers".
Common mistakes
- Changing the IP of your nameserver in your own zone but forgetting to update the glue at the registrar, so resolvers keep following the old address.
- Registering glue for nameservers that are not under the domain. That is unnecessary, and out-of-zone glue is usually ignored.
- Deleting a host object that other domains still depend on, which many registries refuse.
Related
Get notified when this term updates
Plus occasional practical tips on uptime and monitoring, nothing else. Unsubscribe anytime.
यह पेज सामान्य जानकारी है, जिसे हमारी संपादकीय टीम ने लिखा है और दस्तावेज़ीकरण बदलने पर अपडेट किया जाता है। सर्वर और प्रदाता अलग-अलग होते हैं, इसलिए बदलाव पहले सुरक्षित तरीके से जाँचें। देखें: संपादकीय नीति और अस्वीकरण.