Question

How do I create a reverse DNS (PTR) Record

Posted on October 22, 2019
Ubuntu 18.04 DNS
Asked by ajdunne

I have an Ubuntu 18.04 droplet being used as a web host for a shared hosting setup. I need to set up a Reverse DNS record for the Web Host as outgoing emails from the hosted sites are being rejected by recipients as the server does not have Reverse DNS setup. Unfortunately, I did not name the droplet with a FQDN, just a descriptive name: should I do this? If so, I cannot see how to name/rename the Droplet in the Digital Ocean Control Panel. Also the DNS for the Host Servers domain is not located in Digital Ocean, but in a third party DNS hosting service, and I don’t really want to move it.
So, how do I set up a Reverse DNS record under these circumstances? Thanks!

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alexdo

Site Moderator

• October 22, 2019

Accepted Answer

Hello, @ajdunne

The Reverse DNS is configured automatically from our end based on the droplet’s hostname.

To rename your droplet via the control panel, do the following:

Go to Droplets --> Click the droplet you want to rename

Then, on the droplet detail window, click on the name of your droplet (you wouldn’t know you could)

Go to the Settings Tab --> Change the name in the entry field and click the check mark

Make sure you also edit your droplet’s hostname internally as well. Update /etc/hostname and /etc/hosts and reboot.

The PTR should be automatically adjusted in few hours due to DNS cache. If this is still not working after several hours, you can contact our support team as well.

Let us know how it goes.

Jason Thorne • January 15, 2024

This is frustrating. A real DNS server has two files, one for forward DNS, the other for reverse. One simple line in each file configures the DNS for your host. It is SO simple, yet Digital Ocean, Rackspace and AWS refuse to allow you to configure reverse DNS yourself, opting to some opaque automated method that just does not work and is not fit for purpose.

Ikarus • May 25, 2020

I have multiple domains on a Droplet. How do you proceed there?