How to Change DNS Nameservers from Godaddy to Point to AWS Route 53

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Check Current Nameservers
3. Setup AWS
4. Create a New Hosted Zone at Route 53
5. Update Nameservers at GoDaddy
6. Check Nameservers Again
7. Conclusion

Introduction

This blog shows how to change your DNS nameservers from GoDaddy to point to AWS Route 53, so you can create a compute instance at AWS while your domain is registered at GoDaddy. Nameservers determine where your DNS is hosted. Once they point to AWS Route 53, you can define DNS records there.

Check Current Nameservers

You can use the following command in the terminal to check the nameservers of your domain. Notice that the nameservers currently point to GoDaddy's nameservers.

nslookup -type=ns example.com

Setup AWS

Here, we'll start setting up AWS. Assuming you already have an AWS account set up, we'll need to configure Route 53 Hosted Zones.

Create a New Hosted Zone at Route 53

Once you create a hosted zone, you'll get an NS record type and an SOA record type. The NS record should have 4 values. These values are important since we'll use them to update GoDaddy.

This is an example of how to create a hosted zone. Note that once you create a hosted zone, you'll be charged $0.50 per hosted zone for the first 25 hosted zones.

Take a memo of the NS record, as it will be used to enter at GoDaddy.

Update Nameservers at GoDaddy

Change GoDaddy's nameservers by logging into GoDaddy, going to DNS, and selecting Change Nameservers.

Edit Nameservers

At GoDaddy, choose "I'll use my own nameservers." Enter the 4 NS values into the GoDaddy nameservers. Tip: when entering the nameservers, make sure not to include the trailing dot from the AWS NS records.

Log in to GoDaddy and find your registered domain. Go to the Nameservers section and click Change. Enter the 4 values listed from AWS Route 53 at GoDaddy.

Check Nameservers Again

Now, if you type nslookup -type=ns {your domain}, make sure the nameservers point to the AWS hosted zone. If they do not, check again after the TTL time has passed.

nslookup -type=ns example.com

Conclusion

Your GoDaddy registered domain should now point to AWS Route 53. You can start creating records to point your domain to AWS resources, such as using ACM Certificate Manager to create and validate a domain certificate.