Configure DNS in Cloudflare

Configure DNS in Cloudflare

What is Cloudflare?

Cloudflare is a service that offers CDN (Content Delivery Network), DDoS protection, and DNS management for free and paid. Using Cloudflare to manage your DNS can improve your website's speed and security.

Prerequisites

To configure DNS in Cloudflare you need:

• ✅ A Cloudflare account (free)
• ✅ Your registered domain
• ✅ Access to your domain registrar's panel

Step 1: Create Cloudflare account

• Go to: https://www.cloudflare.com
• Click Sign Up
• Complete the registration form
• Verify your email

Step 2: Add your domain

• Once inside Cloudflare, click Add a Site
• Enter your domain (without www or http/https)
• Click Add site

Image 1: Add domain in Cloudflare.

Step 3: Select plan

Cloudflare offers a free plan that includes:

• ✅ CDN and acceleration
• ✅ Basic DDoS protection
• ✅ Free SSL
• ✅ DNS management

Select the Free plan and click Continue.

Step 4: Verify DNS records

Cloudflare will automatically scan your current DNS records. Review that all important records are listed:

• A records (for domain and subdomains)
• CNAME records (if you have them)
• MX records (for email)
• TXT records (SPF, DKIM, DMARC, etc.)

You can edit, add, or delete records as needed.

Step 5: Get Cloudflare nameservers

After verifying records, Cloudflare will show you the nameservers you need to configure in your registrar:

Example:

• lola.ns.cloudflare.com
• nick.ns.cloudflare.com

Note: Nameservers are unique for each account and domain.

Step 6: Change nameservers in your registrar

• Log in to your domain registrar's panel
• Look for the Nameservers or DNS Servers section
• Replace current nameservers with the ones Cloudflare provided
• Save the changes

Note: This change can take up to 48 hours to fully propagate.

Step 7: Verify activation

Once Cloudflare detects that nameservers are configured correctly, you'll see "Active" status in the panel.

You can verify status in:

• Cloudflare main dashboard
• DNS section

Configure DNS records in Cloudflare

Add A record:

• In the DNS section, click Add record
• Select type A
• Name: @ or subdomain name
• IPv4 address: Your server's IP
• Proxy status: Enable proxy (orange cloud) to use CDN, or disable it (gray cloud) for direct DNS
• Click Save

Add CNAME record:

• Click Add record
• Select type CNAME
• Name: Subdomain name
• Target: Destination domain
• Proxy status: Enable or disable as needed
• Click Save

Cloudflare Proxy (orange cloud vs gray cloud)

Orange cloud (Proxy enabled):

• ✅ Uses Cloudflare CDN
• ✅ Automatic DDoS protection
• ✅ Automatic SSL
• ⚠️ Hides your server's real IP

Gray cloud (Proxy disabled):

• ✅ Direct DNS without proxy
• ✅ Shows real IP
• ❌ Doesn't use CDN or DDoS protection

Recommendation: Use proxy (orange cloud) for main domain and web subdomains. Disable it for MX, TXT, and other records that don't need proxy.

Configure SSL in Cloudflare

Cloudflare offers free automatic SSL:

• In the panel, go to SSL/TLS
• Select the mode:
  • Flexible: SSL between user and Cloudflare (not recommended for production)
  • Full: SSL on both sides (recommended)
  • Full (strict): SSL with certificate validation (more secure)

Common issues

Nameservers don't activate

• Verify that nameservers are correctly configured in your registrar
• Wait up to 48 hours for full propagation
• Verify there are no typos in nameservers

Site doesn't load after activating Cloudflare

• Verify that A records have the correct IP
• Check that the web server is running
• Verify SSL configuration
• Try disabling proxy temporarily (gray cloud)

Email doesn't work

• Verify that MX records are configured
• Make sure MX records have proxy disabled (gray cloud)
• Verify that the mail server is accessible

Tips

• ✅ Keep a copy of your DNS records before migrating to Cloudflare
• ✅ Verify all records after migration
• ✅ Use proxy (orange cloud) for web content, gray for email and other services
• ✅ Review SSL configuration according to your needs
• ✅ Monitor performance from Cloudflare panel

Need help?

If you're having trouble configuring Cloudflare or migrating your DNS, open a ticket from the billing.baires.host panel or contact us for support.

You can also reach us through our social media:

• Instagram: @baires_host
• Discord (active support): https://discord.gg/dzjauatAFN
• Linktree: https://linktr.ee/baires.host