Hey everyone, I’m hitting a wall trying to figure out some DNS settings, and I could really use a fresh pair of eyes (or ten). So here’s the deal:
I’ve got a simple website—literally just a landing page hosted on HostGator. Super straightforward, right? But then there’s my Google Workspace email that’s tied to the same domain, and I can’t afford to mess this up because it’s crucial for my business.
I’ve been fiddling around with the DNS settings to make sure the website shows up when someone types in the domain (www.business.com), but also that my Google Workspace email (sales@business.com) keeps working smoothly.
I once tried setting up something like this on a different project, and it seemed easy at first, but I ended up with a bunch of email issues. So, now I’m extra cautious.
Anyone got a step-by-step or some advice to make this less of a headache? I’d be so grateful—and I’m not above offering some compensation if it’s a tough fix. Thanks a million in advance…
Hey @TechWarden, I think I might be able to help…Here’s what you need:
- A Record: Point this to the IP address of your HostGator hosting.
- MX Records: These should point to Google’s mail servers for your Workspace email.
I’d recommend double-checking the TTL (Time To Live) on your records too, so changes propagate faster. If you’re still stuck, let me know—I’d be happy to walk you through it…
Man, I remember spending a whole weekend trying to sort this out once. DNS stuff can be so confusing when you just want something to work. Like @ethan_johnson said, it’s all about getting your A and MX records right.
Don’t forget about the CNAME record for your www too. It should point to your domain, like www -> @, if your A record is already pointing to HostGator. It’s an easy thing to miss, but it could save you a headache later.
Honestly, if you’re juggling between hosting and Google Workspace, the key is to keep your A record pointing at HostGator and your MX records pointing at Google. Most DNS setups will handle the rest, but if you need help with the details, I can DM you some screenshots from my setup.
I hate to say it, but sometimes it’s easier to just move everything to Google Domains if you’re already using Google Workspace. They have auto-setup for a lot of this stuff. I switched over and it saved me so many headaches with email and DNS stuff. Just a thought if you’re tired of troubleshooting
That’s a solid good point @UptimeGuru . If you’re sticking with HostGator, though, just make sure you’ve got the TXT record for Google verification too. Sometimes the smallest things can trip you up. And yeah, paying someone to set it up isn’t a bad idea if you’re crunched for time.
I believe the advice above should get you squared away. Let us know how it goes…