The Small Guide to Google Apps [4.] – DNS configuration

We covered the easiest scenario in my last article here at Icethunder.net. It’s time to get a  little bit dirty. Today’s article will cover the little bit harder way of configuring your domain name, but at the end you will see it is maybe even as easy as the previous way

the Educational Way of setting up Google Apps

In this scenario  your domain name registrar does not provide you an easy link to install Google Apps and thus you will need to do all the configuration changes yourself. You do not need to worry as I will guide you trough the whole process with images and text

There are some examples of set up steps on this Google web site and you might use it if your domain registrar is on the list

The steps to Google Apps

PART A. of Google Apps Set up

1. You need to familiarize yourself with your domain name registrars control panel. Click on a few links and find out what they mean. After you feel quite comfortable with the interface you can go to point 2.
2. Go to the domain name you want to set up Google Apps for. If you have only one domain name under your account you will not have lots of choices. On the other hand, if you have more than one domain be sure to select the right domain name as you do not want to mess something up on the wrong domain name.
3. You have selected [clicked] the right domain name you have been taken to a new site. It is the site you can manage various settings of your domain name.
4. Select DNS settings or DNS Set Up or DNS Configuration or equivalent option from the menu. The name can vary, but the effect should be the same
5. You should be able to edit your DNS settings.
6. Stop right here and continue with PART B.
7. Now you will need to create a few MX records to make your Google Apps Email service working.
8. Go to this web site and create MX DNS records according to the table!
9. If all records are created click SAVE if there is such an option. If not probably your registrar uses an Auto-save function and you should be safe.
10. Create a CNAME for mail.your_domain.tld, sites.your_domain.tld, calendar.your_domain.tld all pointing to ghs.google.com -> This will come in handy when you want to access your services more easily! I will talk about it in an article dedicated to Customization.
11. That’s all and you should be set up properly If you want to access your new Google Apps services go to:
    1. www.google.com/a/your_domain.com to get to the control panel. From here you will be able to
       1. add new features
       2. create and delete users
       3. change passwords
       4. change access methods and addresses [e.g. create a mail.your_domain.tld instead of the ugly google.com/a/... address ]

PART B. of Google Apps Set up

1. Open a new Tab in your browser.
2. Navigate to https://www.google.com/a/cpanel/domain/new
3. Choose which option applies to you – I think the majority of you will choose ADMINISTRATOR
4. Fill in your domain name [e.g. I would fill in www.icethunder.net]
5. you will be taken to the next screen
6. fill in the Administrator information and Organization Information
7. Click CONTINUE and you will be taken to the verification page. Now you need to verify that you are the domain name owner! You can use either of the two methods. Each of them will bring you the same result. But if you do not have a web host so far use the CNAME method!
   1. To create a CNAME to verify your domain name go to the tab where your domain name registrar web site is open and create a CNAME record with the appropriate string as seen on the Verification screen.
   2. Click Save
   3. Go to the previous Tab [the Tab where you are setting up Google Apps.]
8. Click on VERIFY when you are ready!
9. Your domain name gets verified in the next couple of hours, but you can start configuring your Google Apps account right away.
10. click the Tab where you have your domain name registrars web site open and Go to PART A.

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Final thoughts

I think both described methods are pretty easy to follow and execute. You do not need a degree in IT to set it up correctly, but you need to be patient and not run away on the first sign of trouble Have a nice day and see you next time as we will move on to another scenario

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