Tech Nameserver question - GoFuckYourself.com

Publisher Bucks · 02-23-2026, 04:11 AM

Random question, is there any benefit to adding more than 2 nameservers to a domain when setting them up?

Some hosting companies only give you two whereas others give you four.

Does it make any difference if you use two nameservers vs 3 or 4?

Umami · 02-23-2026, 07:48 AM

In my 20 years of doing this never have I ever needed to use more then 2 nameservers
So I stick to what works and it has never failed me, 2 nameservers

Publisher Bucks · 02-23-2026, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Umami

In my 20 years of doing this never have I ever needed to use more then 2 nameservers
So I stick to what works and it has never failed me, 2 nameservers

Thats basically my train of thought too.

Just curious about why anyone would need to use more than 2 and if there were any actual benefits to it lol

fris · 02-23-2026, 08:55 AM

depends where the 4 dns are. if the first two are aws and there is an outage. the 2nd group will be of use.

Zverka · 02-23-2026, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fris

depends where the 4 dns are. if the first two are aws and there is an outage. the 2nd group will be of use.

This above. Also you can have more nameservers but if they are on same server no benefit at all as if server goes down all nameservers are down as well. By design you must use minimum 2 nameservers (ns1 / ns2) registered under your domain.

You can also have them both on same IP but no benefit at all as if DNS software in use is on same server and server goes down all nameservers are down as well.

It would be best practice to have ns1/ns2/ns3 ... on different servers on different IPs in different datacenters because of redundancy. All nameservers query each other and copy records for every domain that use them.

If I may suggest to you stop using nameservers on your own server/hosting and start to use free version of CloudFlare only for DNS purpose, here is a guide https://www.cnewcomer.com/use-cloudf...-hosting-only/ . You can disable their cache and proxy and use only DNS and it is a very good third party DNS.

Also in case of some attack you can quickly enable their proxy and use their WAF firewall, many benefits of using CF as DNS provider and it is all cover under their Free Plan.

02-23-2026, 04:11 AM	#1
Publisher Bucks Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: New Orleans, Louisiana. / Newcastle, England. Posts: 1,283	Nameserver question Random question, is there any benefit to adding more than 2 nameservers to a domain when setting them up? Some hosting companies only give you two whereas others give you four. Does it make any difference if you use two nameservers vs 3 or 4? __________________ Extreme Link List - v1.0

02-23-2026, 08:55 AM	#4
fris Too lazy to set a custom title Industry Role: Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 55,487	depends where the 4 dns are. if the first two are aws and there is an outage. the 2nd group will be of use. __________________ Since 1999: 69 Adult Industry awards for Best Hosting Company and professional excellence. My Cam Feeds Script

02-23-2026, 07:48 AM	#2
Umami Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Jun 2025 Posts: 209	In my 20 years of doing this never have I ever needed to use more then 2 nameservers So I stick to what works and it has never failed me, 2 nameservers