Help & DNS guide

Everything you need to get your coom.im name working — in plain language, no jargon.

On this page What is my name? What is DNS? The record types How to add a record Common tasks How long until it works? Something doesn't work Your email Rather not do this yourself?

1. What is my name?

You picked something like yourname.coom.im. That's your own spot on the internet. It's yours to point anywhere: a website, a blog, a shop, an app or email.

Until you point it somewhere, visiting it shows a friendly "this name works and is ready" page. As soon as you add your own settings (below), it starts doing what you want.

2. What is DNS? (the internet's address book)

Computers don't understand names like yourname.coom.im; they need numbers. DNS is the internet's address book: it translates your name into the right address, wherever you want it to go.

Each line you add is called a record. Think of it as one instruction in the address book: "when someone asks for this, send them there."

3. The record types

You don't need all of them — most people only use one or two.

Type	What it's for	Example value
A	Point your name to a website (an IP address). The most common one.	`1.2.3.4`
AAAA	Same as A, but for the newer, longer internet addresses (IPv6). Only if your host gives you one.	`2001:db8::1`
CNAME	Point your name to another name instead of a number. Handy for services that tell you "use `something.provider.com`".	`yoursite.wordpress.com`
MX	Email. Tells the world which mail server handles your mail.	`mail.yourprovider.com`
TXT	Extra text notes — used for email security (SPF) and for proving you own the name (verification).	`v=spf1 ~all`
SRV / CAA	Advanced settings for specific services and security. Rarely needed.	—

Host fieldLeave it empty (or @) to point your name itself (yourname.coom.im). Type www to make www.yourname.coom.im work too.

TTLHow long the internet remembers a setting (in seconds). Leave it at 3600. Testing something? Set it lower (e.g. 300) so changes apply faster.

4. How to add a record

Go to your manage page (sign in with your name + password).
Under DNS records, fill in the four boxes: Host, Type, Value and TTL.
Click Add record. It's saved instantly and shown in the list.
Wrong one? Click Remove next to it and try again.

5. Common tasks

Point your name to a website

Your web host gives you an IP address (like 1.2.3.4) or a name (like yoursite.host.com).

Got an IP address? Add an A record with Host empty and that number as the value.
Got a name? Add a CNAME record with Host empty and that name as the value.
Want www to work too? Add the same again with Host = www.

Set up email

Your email provider (Gmail, Outlook, your host…) gives you the settings.

Add an MX record pointing to their mail server.
Often they also give a TXT record (SPF) — add that too, exactly as given.

Connect a service (Google, Shopify, Stripe…)

These services usually show a list like "add a TXT record with this value". Copy the Host, Type and Value straight from their instructions into your manage page. That's it.

Copy exactlyDouble-check spelling and dots. One wrong character and it won't work.

6. How long until it works?

Usually a few minutes. Sometimes up to a few hours, because the whole internet has to learn the new instruction. This is normal and called "propagation" — nothing is broken, just wait a little.

7. Something doesn't work

Nothing loads? Give it a few minutes, then try a different browser or your phone.
Site won't show? Check the A/CNAME value with your web host and make sure the Host field is right.
No email? Check the MX value and any TXT/SPF records your provider asked for.
Still stuck? Ask your website or email provider to confirm the exact values, then copy them again.

8. Your email (browser & mail apps)

When micro hosting is active you get one or more mailboxes at your name (e.g. info@yourname.coom.im). You can read them in the browser, or in any standard mail app.

Read it in the browser

Open mail.coom.im and sign in with your email address and mailbox password. That's it — a clean inbox in the same style as this site.

Use a mail app (Thunderbird, Outlook, Apple Mail, phone)

	Server	Port	Encryption
Incoming (IMAP)	`mail.coom.im`	993	SSL/TLS
Outgoing (SMTP)	`mail.coom.im`	587 / 465	STARTTLS / SSL/TLS

Username: your full email address.
Password: your mailbox password.
Outgoing needs authentication — the same username and password.

9. Rather not do this yourself?

Micro hosting — we're building a simple option where your name, a small website and email just work, with all the DNS set up automatically. No technical steps at all.

Not active yet — hope to offer it soon.

Read about micro hosting

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