Chapter 8: Waiting for DNS Propagation

DNS changes aren’t instant. They need to propagate across the internet, which can take a bit of time. Let’s walk through what to expect and how to check the status.

🕒 How Long Does DNS Propagation Take?

• ⏱️ Usually between 30 minutes to a few hours
• 🌐 In some cases, it can take up to 48 hours (especially with certain ISPs or DNS caches)

But don’t worry — most changes are visible within the first couple of hours.

🔍 How to Check DNS Propagation

Use these handy tools to check whether the world can see your updated DNS info:

• 🌐 https://www.whatsmydns.net
  → Enter your domain and check NS or A records from multiple countries
• 🔍 https://dnschecker.org
  → Same idea, different layout — both are great!

Or go old-school with the terminal:

dig yourdomain.com NS
nslookup yourdomain.com

🧼 Tip: Clear Your DNS Cache

Sometimes your device or browser is caching the old info. You can:

• 🔁 Restart your computer or router
• 💻 Clear local DNS cache:
  • Windows: ipconfig /flushdns
  • macOS: sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder
  • Linux: restart systemd-resolved or nscd

❓ What If It’s Not Working?

If after 48 hours your domain still isn’t resolving:

• 🔍 Double-check your name servers on GoDaddy
• ✅ Make sure your DNS Zone is active in OCI
• 📝 Review your A records — did you point them to the correct IP?

💡 Pro tip: You can set a low TTL (Time To Live) value on your DNS records next time if you plan to make changes again — it helps them propagate faster.