What Are Nameservers and How to Find Them

When setting up your website, one of the first things you’ll come across is the term nameservers. It might sound technical, but it’s something every website owner needs to understand - and it’s simpler than you think.

Let’s walk through what nameservers do, why they matter, and how you can find or update them when working with Vivint Host or another provider.

What Are Nameservers?

Nameservers are part of how the internet connects your domain name (like yourcompany.com) to your website’s files stored on a hosting server.

Here’s how it works:
When someone types your domain name into their browser, nameservers tell the internet where to find your website. They direct traffic from your domain to your hosting server.

For example, at Vivint Host, your nameservers might look like this:

• ns1.vivinthost.com  
• ns2.vivinthost.com

Once your domain is linked to these nameservers, your website will load correctly from our servers.

Why Nameservers Matter

If your domain name doesn’t point to the right nameservers, your website won’t show up. It’s that simple.

Here’s why nameservers are important:

• They make sure your website is visible online
• They help your domain connect to the right hosting provider
• They ensure that any email services tied to your domain work as expected

Without correct nameservers, your visitors won’t reach your website.

How to Find Your Nameservers

You can check your nameservers in a few different places, depending on where your domain is registered or hosted.

1. If Your Domain Is with Vivint Host

If you registered your domain with Vivint Host:

• Log into your Vivint Host Client Area
• Click on “Domains”
• Select the domain you want to check
• Scroll to the Nameservers section

You’ll see your current nameservers listed there. If you’re using Vivint Host’s default settings, they will look something like:

• ns1.vivinthost.com  
• ns2.vivinthost.com

2. If Your Domain Is Registered with Another Company

If your domain is with another registrar (like GoDaddy, Namecheap, etc.):

• Log into your account with that registrar
• Find the domain management or DNS section
• Look for the area labeled “Nameservers”
  
  

There, you can check what nameservers your domain is currently using — and update them if needed.

3. Use a WHOIS Lookup Tool

You can also check nameservers for any domain using a WHOIS lookup tool. Simply:

• Go to a WHOIS website (such as whois.domaintools.com or who.is)
• Enter the domain name
• The tool will show the current nameservers and registrar details
  
  

When Should You Update Nameservers?

You’ll need to change nameservers when:

• You’re moving your website to a new hosting provider
• You want your domain to point to a different server
• You’re using a DNS management service like Cloudflare

Once you update your nameservers, it usually takes 24 to 48 hours for changes to take full effect across the internet. This delay is called DNS propagation, and it’s completely normal.

Need Help?

If you’re not sure what to do, don’t worry. Our team at Vivint Host is available 24/7 to help you find, update, or set your nameservers correctly.

We’ll make sure your domain is connected the right way, so your website runs smoothly from the start.