As a Host Media reseller, you have two options for the nameservers you give to your clients: anonymous nameservers provided by us, or your own custom branded nameservers (for example, ns1.yourbrand.com). This guide explains both options and how to use the anonymous nameservers.
What are anonymous nameservers?
Anonymous nameservers are nameservers provided by Host Media that do not contain any reference to Host Media in their name. When a client points their domain to these nameservers, there is no visible indication of who the underlying hosting company is, helping you maintain your own brand with your clients.
This is different from using generic Host Media nameservers, which would reveal to your clients (or anyone doing a nameserver lookup) that their hosting is managed by Host Media.
Finding your anonymous nameservers
Your anonymous nameservers are included in your reseller welcome email from Host Media. They will appear as two nameserver addresses, for example:
ns1.example-nameserver.com
ns2.example-nameserver.comIf you cannot locate your welcome email, open a support ticket and our team will provide your nameserver details.
Note: We do not publish our anonymous nameserver addresses publicly. This is by design — keeping them unlisted helps ensure they remain unassociated with Host Media in any web searches your clients might do.
How to use anonymous nameservers
Once you have your nameserver details, you simply provide them to your clients when they need to point their domain to your reseller hosting. Your clients then update their nameservers at their domain registrar.
Here is what to tell your client:
To point your domain to your new hosting, log in to your domain registrar and update your nameservers to the following:
Nameserver 1: ns1.example-nameserver.com
Nameserver 2: ns2.example-nameserver.com
Once updated, allow up to 24 hours for DNS propagation to complete.
The exact steps for updating nameservers vary by registrar. Most registrars have a DNS or Nameserver settings section within the domain management area. If your client is unsure, they should contact their registrar's support team.
Adding a domain to your reseller account
Before giving your client the nameservers, make sure the domain is added to your reseller hosting account in WHM:
- Log in to WHM.
- Go to Account Functions → Create a New Account.
- Enter the domain name and account details, select a package, and click Create.
- Once the account is created, the domain is ready to receive traffic as soon as the client's nameservers have propagated.
Anonymous nameservers vs custom branded nameservers
Both options keep your reseller relationship private, but they work differently:
| Anonymous nameservers | Custom branded nameservers | |
|---|---|---|
| What they look like | Generic, not linked to Host Media or your brand | Branded as ns1.yourbrand.com |
| Setup required | None, ready to use immediately | Requires registering glue records and a support request |
| Best for | Getting started quickly, or if you do not have your own domain to brand nameservers under | Established resellers who want full white-label branding |
| Client sees | Generic nameserver names with no brand association | Your brand name in the nameservers |
If you would like to set up your own branded nameservers, see our guide: Custom nameservers for resellers.
DNS propagation after nameserver changes
After a client updates their nameservers, the change can take anywhere from a few hours to 24 hours to propagate fully. During this time the domain may intermittently resolve to the old server. This is normal and will resolve on its own once propagation is complete.
For more information on propagation times, see: How long does DNS propagation take?
