Domain names, registrars, authoritative nameservers, and DNS records determine who controls your domain and how it connects to May First services like websites and email.
This guide explains what these components are, how they relate to one another, and how to use them with May First hosting.
Controlling your own domain name is an important part of your digital autonomy, it allows you to change providers or infrastructure while keeping a stable identity.
mayfirst.org is an example of a domain name.
Controlling your own base domain also allows you to define and control any subdomains.
help.mayfirst.org and www.mayfirst.org are examples of subdomains.
We recommend using your own domains for websites or email at May First. If you need a temporary solution or cannot register a domain, you can also use a May First subdomain.
Members with hosting plans are allowed to use any subdomain of the base domain mayfirst.info for hosting email or websites on our infrastructure.
staging.mayfirst.info is an example of a subdomain.
To use a subdomain like the one above just choose the name and follow the instructions for setting up a new website or setting up email with that domain.
These subdomains are already using the May First nameservers and you are allowed to create DNS records for them in the May Fist control panel.
To obtain your own domain you need a domain registrar.
May First is NOT a domain registrar. why not?
Registrars are accredited companies that typically operate as retail intermediaries and charge a fee to register and renew domain names on your behalf. They manage your domain's registration with the corresponding domain registry for Top Level Domains (such as .org or .com).
Learn [how to lookup you current registrar] if you already have a domain.
May First is NOT a domain registrar. why not?
We can provide website and email hosting infrastructure for your domain but we do not provide the name registration service. You can do this separately through a 3rd party commercial registrar.
To date, we have not found any domain registrars explicitly aligned with our mission and politics.
Commercial registrars
The following commercial providers have been used by May First and other May First members. We have no formal relationship with any of them.
If you are registering a domain for use with May First, you only need to purchase the domain registration itself. Additional services, add-ons, or web hosting packages offered by commercial registrars are not required.
Your domain's authoritative nameservers play a central role in connecting your domain to your chosen hosting and internet services.
If you register your own domain you have the right to decide the values for your authoritative DNS nameservers or change them at any time. These nameservers are responsible for publishing the official DNS records that direct visitors, email, and other traffic to the correct service providers.
Before migrating or creating new websites or emails at May First you should decide which DNS nameservers to use.
We recommend using our nameservers, making May First your DNS provider. The benefits of doing this include:
See our instructions for how to use the May First DNS nameservers.
If your domain is already in use, read carefully before changing nameservers.
There are situations in which you would not change your domain's nameservers. In these cases, you can still use our hosting services, but you must be able to manage your domain's DNS records through your existing DNS provider.
Using a proxy or DDoS protection service
Examples: Cloudflare, Deflect
Your domain already has active services
Examples: Websites, email, or other services that are not migrating to May First use your domain or its subdomains
You cannot change the domain's nameservers
Examples: No access to the domain registrar or registrar account
You prefer to use another DNS provider
Examples: Organizational policy, existing workflows, or personal preference
DNS records are like an address book for the Internet. They translate human-friendly names, such as mayfirst.org, into the numerical IP addresses computers use to find websites, email and other services associated with your domain name.
To use May First services, your domain must have the appropriate DNS records set. When you [set up a new hosting order with May First], the control panel will attempt to automatically create the required records for your website and email. You can review these records in the control panel.
Different DNS record types support different services. Learn more about the [DNS records available in the May First control panel].
If you need to add or update records yourself, or if you use an external DNS provider, see: