Domain and DNS Setup Guide

Domain Registration and Lead Times

When launching your streaming service, securing an appropriate domain name is a critical first step. Consider the following:

• Lead time: Allow approximately one week for domain registration, DNS configuration, and SSL certificate issuance
• Global propagation: When changing DNS settings, changes may take 24-48 hours to propagate worldwide (TTL dependent)
• Domain selection: Choose a domain name that aligns with your brand and is easy for customers to remember

Domain and Subdomain Options

Magine Pro provides the streaming platform where customers can browse and play your content. You have several options for how to structure your domain setup:

Option 1: Dedicated Subdomain (Recommended)

Use a subdomain specifically for the Magine Pro streaming platform while maintaining your main domain for other purposes.

Examples:

• watch.yourservice.com
• play.yourservice.com
• stream.yourservice.com
• tv.yourservice.com

Benefits:

• Allows you to maintain a separate marketing website on your main domain
• Creates clear separation between different services you may offer
• Simplifies DNS configuration process

Option 2: Main Domain with Path - CUSTOM - NOT RECOMMENDED (has EXTERNAL DEPENDANCIES)

Use your main domain with a specific path for the streaming service.

Example:

• yourservice.com/watch

Important DNS Requirements:

• This option requires your DNS provider to support ALIAS, ANAME, CNAME-flattening, or similar proprietary solutions for the root domain
• These solutions are not IETF standards - in fact, the DNS standards explicitly prohibit CNAME records at the root domain level because they cannot coexist with mandatory NS/SOA records
• Provider support varies significantly - some providers like CloudFlare offer CNAME-flattening that works well
• Alternatively, HTTP redirects or URL forwarding can be used, but this adds complexity and potential performance issues
• Without proper support for these non-standard solutions, this configuration may not work correctly

Note: This option requires additional configuration and may have limitations with some features.

Option 3: Use Main Domain Only - CUSTOM - NOT RECOMMENDED (has EXTERNAL DEPENDANCIES)

Direct your entire domain (root domain) to the Magine Pro platform.

Example:

• yourservice.com points directly to the streaming service

Important DNS Requirements:

• Using a root domain (without www) requires your DNS provider to support ALIAS, ANAME, CNAME-flattening, or similar proprietary solutions
• These are workarounds to the DNS standard limitation that prohibits CNAME records at the root domain level
• Many basic DNS providers do not support these non-standard techniques
• Advanced providers like CloudFlare offer CNAME-flattening that works well for this scenario
• Without such support, you must use URL forwarding from the root domain to a subdomain
• We strongly recommend checking your DNS provider's capabilities before selecting this option

Note: With this option, you won't be able to host a separate marketing site on the main domain.

DNS Configuration Requirements

To properly set up your domain with Magine Pro, you'll need to configure specific DNS records:

Required DNS Records

1. CNAME Record for your chosen subdomain pointing to Magine Pro's hosting URL
2. DNS Records for your main domain (if using option 3)

SSL Certificates

Secure connections (HTTPS) are mandatory for streaming services. Magine Pro will provide specific configuration details for SSL certificate setup based on your chosen domain structure.

DNS Setup Process

When your domain is ready, Magine Pro will request you to:

1. Update the CNAME record for your chosen subdomain
2. Point it to the specific Magine Pro hosting URL (which will be provided to you)
3. Set an appropriate TTL (Time to Live) value - lower values (300-900 seconds) enable faster updates if changes are needed

DNS Provider Options

Different DNS providers offer varying levels of support for specific record types:

Common DNS Record Types

• A Record: Maps a domain to an IP address
• CNAME Record: Maps a domain/subdomain to another domain name
• Note: DNS standards prohibit CNAME records at the root domain level because they cannot coexist with mandatory NS/SOA records
• Root Domain Solutions (various names depending on provider):
• ALIAS/ANAME: Proprietary records that function like CNAMEs but work at the root domain
• CNAME-flattening: Provider-side technology that effectively allows CNAME-like behavior for root domains
• Other proprietary solutions: Various DNS providers have their own branded implementations
• Important: None of these are IETF standardized, and implementation varies significantly between providers

Provider-Specific Considerations

Basic DNS Providers

Some domain registrars offer limited DNS features. If your provider doesn't support ALIAS/ANAME records for root domains, consider:

• Using URL forwarding from the root domain to www subdomain
• Switching to a more feature-rich DNS provider

Advanced DNS Providers

For more complex setups, particularly those requiring root domain solutions, consider using specialized DNS providers such as:

• CloudFlare: Offers CNAME-flattening that works well for root domains
• AWS Route 53: Supports ALIAS records for root domains
• Google Cloud DNS: Provides CNAME-like functionality for root domains
• Akamai Edge DNS: Supports ANAME records
• DNS Made Easy: Supports ANAME records
• NS1: Supports ALIAS records

These services offer additional features like:

• Root domain CNAME-like functionality (with various proprietary implementations)
• Advanced routing policies
• Better performance through CDN integration
• DDoS protection
• Faster global propagation

Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues with your domain setup:

1. Verify DNS propagation using tools like whatsmydns.net
2. Check that your CNAME records are correctly configured
3. Ensure your DNS provider supports the required record types
4. Contact Magine Pro support if issues persist

Next Steps

Once your domain is configured:

1. Magine Pro will verify your DNS setup
2. SSL certificates will be issued and configured
3. Your streaming service will be linked to your domain
4. You can then customize your service appearance and upload content

For specific configuration details or questions about your unique setup, please contact the Magine Pro support team.