# Change the SOA record
Source: https://docs.webgee.com/en/domains-dns/how-do-i-update-the-soa-record-of-the-dns-zones-under-my-reseller-account





Change the Start of Authority record for a DNS zone. Applies to reseller
accounts with WHM.

Every DNS zone must have an `SOA` record — it is required by the DNS standards
and is what zone transfers rely on.

<img alt="An example SOA record" src="__img0" />

## What it holds [#what-it-holds]

| Field     | Meaning                                                           |
| --------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `MNAME`   | The primary nameserver for the zone                               |
| `RNAME`   | The administrator's email address                                 |
| `Serial`  | Version number. Increments on every change                        |
| `Refresh` | How often secondaries check for updates                           |
| `Retry`   | How long to wait after a failed check                             |
| `Expire`  | How long secondaries serve the zone if the primary is unreachable |
| `TTL`     | Default caching time for records in the zone                      |

<Callout type="info">
  **`RNAME` has no `@` sign** and that is correct, not a typo. In an SOA record
  the `@` is replaced by a dot, so `admin.example.com` means
  `admin@example.com`. This confuses people every time they first read one.

  A consequence: if the local part itself contains a dot —
  `first.last@example.com` — that dot must be escaped as
  `first\.last.example.com`.
</Callout>

## Change it [#change-it]

1. Sign in to **WHM**.
2. Search for **Edit DNS Zone**.
3. Select the domain.
4. Edit the SOA fields.
5. Save.

To change the default applied to **new** zones, use **Basic WebHost Manager
Setup** instead — otherwise you are editing one zone at a time forever.

## When it is worth changing [#when-it-is-worth-changing]

* **`RNAME`**, so abuse and technical notices reach an address you monitor.
* **`MNAME`**, when using [custom nameservers](/en/domains-dns/how-do-i-create-custom-nameservers).
* **TTL**, lowered ahead of a planned migration so changes propagate faster.

The timing values are otherwise best left alone — the defaults are sensible, and
short refresh intervals mostly generate needless queries.

<Callout type="warn">
  The **serial** must increase on every change. WHM handles this for you, but if
  you edit a zone file by hand and do not increment it, secondary nameservers
  will not pick up the change — and nothing will indicate why.
</Callout>

## Related [#related]

* [Create custom nameservers](/en/domains-dns/how-do-i-create-custom-nameservers)
* [Reset a DNS zone to its defaults](/en/domains-dns/how-do-i-reset-the-dns-zone-to-the-default-for-a-domain)