Thread: Assistance requested: Best Way to provide DNS hosting as a Webhosting Provider?

Hi WebhostingTalk guys,

I am new and could really use some help.

I would like to use WHMCS to offer domain names, Cpanel webhosting packages and email hosting to my customers.
The thing I can't figure out is how do I provide complimentary DNS hosting to all my customers who purchased domain names, webhosting, etc via WHMCS?

I currently have a DNS cluster of ns1.myhost.com, ns2.myhost.com setup within my Cpanel server but I have no clue how to use it to achieve the above objective.
How do most hosting providers do it?
What do I need to do such that customers who purchase domain names, Cpanel webhosting packages and email hosting via WHMCS can manage their DNS records via their WHMCS client dashboard?

best regards
Darren Tan

Integrate the DNS Cluster to a cPanel server and disable all features except Domain and DNS-related ones. Then, you can provide complementary cPanel accounts to your users to manage DNS.

Or, you can get reseller DNS hosting from providers like ClouDNS, integrate it into WHMCS with their plugin, and offer DNS hosting accounts to your end user.

Should be able to do this with PowerDNS and a WHMCS plugin/addon

Thanks for the reply, I appreciate it ,Shoss!

I have an existing Cpanel server that provides shared hosting to multiple Cpanel clients.
This Cpanel server has a DNS cluster consisting of 3 Cpanel DNSonly servers
-> ns1.myhostingdomain.com
-> ns2.myhostingdomain.com
-> ns3.myhostingdomain.com

I currently already have a pool of domain only customers whom I do provide DNS hosting via the above Cpanel setup.
The issue is that each DNS only hosting client is taking up a Cpanel account, which is costly considering the cost of Cpanel licenses.

*Is there a way for me to provide my domain only customers with DNS hosting within WHMCS (allow them to self administer their DNS records) using the resources that I already have that DOES NOT involve taking up a Cpanel account?

Originally Posted by MechanicWeb-shoss

Integrate the DNS Cluster to a cPanel server and disable all features except Domain and DNS-related ones. Then, you can provide complementary cPanel accounts to your users to manage DNS.

Or, you can get reseller DNS hosting from providers like ClouDNS, integrate it into WHMCS with their plugin, and offer DNS hosting accounts to your end user.

Thanks for the reply, Tom!

I have an existing Cpanel server with a DNS cluster consisting of 3 Cpanel DNSonly servers on PowerDNS.
-> ns1.myhostingdomain.com
-> ns2.myhostingdomain.com
-> ns3.myhostingdomain.com

*There are quite a number of WHMCS plugins on the market, some are in the WHMCS marketplace and some are not.
All the gurus here have probably done versions of this setup dozens of times but for a newbie here, I am really clueless.
Any help with some detailed steps and your thoughts would be most appreciated.

Originally Posted by whmcsguru

Should be able to do this with PowerDNS and a WHMCS plugin/addon

Originally Posted by darrentan

*Is there a way for me to provide my domain only customers with DNS hosting within WHMCS (allow them to self administer their DNS records) using the resources that I already have that DOES NOT involve taking up a Cpanel account?

ClouDNS reseller doesn't work for you?

Originally Posted by MechanicWeb-shoss

ClouDNS reseller doesn't work for you?

Did you use it? Is it same as bunnycdn/cloudflare ?

Originally Posted by hamzarazzaq

Did you use it? Is it same as bunnycdn/cloudflare ?

I haven't used their reseller plan.

There is a WHMCS module that does what you want and it uses DirectAdmin account as the DNS host.

Originally Posted by MechanicWeb-shoss

ClouDNS reseller doesn't work for you?

It's about the cost.

I am trying to provide DNS hosting for my domain clients via WHMCS without incurring additional monthly costs that scales with more domain name clients.
ClouDNS charges USD$40/month for 400 DNS zones.
That's the equivalent cost to feed a small family in my country for a month with some prudent grocery shopping.

Originally Posted by OpenInternet

There is a WHMCS module that does what you want and it uses DirectAdmin account as the DNS host.

What WHMCS module is that?
Could you provide a link for someone inexperienced like myself to locate it?

Originally Posted by darrentan

It's about the cost.

I am trying to provide DNS hosting for my domain clients via WHMCS without incurring additional monthly costs that scales with more domain name clients.
ClouDNS charges USD$40/month for 400 DNS zones.
That's the equivalent cost to feed a small family in my country for a month with some prudent grocery shopping.

You could probably get away with the smallest plan. You do not need dedicated IPs for DNS hosting. This is perhaps the lowest you could get, price-wise.

It will cost more if you set up your own DNSOnly servers using Webuzo, DirectAdmin, or cPanel.

You could set up vanilla linux and DNS, but integrating it into WHMCS would require extensive server administration and scripting skills.

Or, you could switch to a domain registrar that offers free DNS hosting. There are plenty of such registrars.