VPS Documentation

Reverse DNS (PTR Records)

Reverse DNS (rDNS) maps an IP address back to a hostname using a PTR record — the opposite of a normal A or AAAA record, which maps a hostname to an IP. Every Sitequest VPS lets you set a custom PTR record for each of its public IP addresses directly from the dashboard.

Why Reverse DNS Matters

  • Email delivery — many mail servers reject or spam-filter messages from IPs whose PTR record is missing or does not match the sending hostname. A correct PTR record is effectively mandatory if you run your own mail server.
  • Reputation — spam-filtering and security services use rDNS to verify that an IP belongs to a legitimate, properly configured host.
  • Readable logs — hostnames in access and audit logs are far easier to interpret than raw IP addresses.

Setting a PTR Record

  1. Open your VPS in the dashboard and go to the Network & Security page
  2. Find the IP address you want to configure in the IP Addresses section
  3. Click the rDNS field next to the address
  4. Enter the fully-qualified hostname (for example mail.example.com)
  5. Click Save

The PTR record is updated at the registry responsible for the IP block. You can set a separate hostname for each IPv4 and IPv6 address assigned to your server.

The hostname you enter should resolve back to the same IP with a matching forward (A/AAAA) record. Mismatched forward and reverse records are treated as misconfigured by most mail providers.

IPv4 and IPv6

Both address families support reverse DNS independently. If you send mail over IPv6, set a PTR record for the IPv6 address as well — some providers check the record for whichever protocol the connection actually used.

Verifying the Record

Reverse DNS changes can take a few minutes to propagate. Once applied, verify the record from any machine:

dig -x YOUR_SERVER_IP +short

The command returns the hostname you configured. For IPv6, pass the full address to dig -x the same way.

Symptom Likely cause
dig -x returns nothing Record not yet propagated, or never set
Returns the default provider hostname Custom PTR not saved for that specific IP
Mail still flagged as spam Forward record (A/AAAA) does not match the PTR hostname

Next Steps