cPanel server: “hostname resolves to” alert email

The “hostname resolves to. It should resolve to xx.xx.xx.xx” alert is received from a cPanel server if the hostname of your server is not resolving to your server IP. The message received from the server is:

IMPORTANT: Do not ignore this email. The hostname (server.domain.tld
resolves to. It should resolve to xx.xx.xx.xx. Please be sure to
correct /etc/hosts as well as the 'A' entry in zone file for domain.


Some are all of these problems can be caused by /etc/resolv.conf
being setup incorrectly.  Please check this file if you believe
everything else is correct.

You have to set an ‘A’ record for the hostname in your domains DNS zone file. The ‘A’ record will point the server hostname to your server IP and server will stop sending you the alert messages.

For example, if the hostname of your server is server.abc.com. You have to add an ‘A’ record for server in the DNS zone file of abc.com. The DNS zone file of abc.com resides on the server where the name servers of abc.com are pointing.

If the name servers for abc.com are resolving to your server, you need to edit the dns zone file of abc.com from

WHM >> DNS Functions >> Edit a DNS Zone"

and add an ‘A’ record for ‘server’ to point to your server IP.

If you are using your domain registrar’s name servers for abc.com, then you have to set an ‘A’ record in the domain registrar panel. But make sure it is set correctly on your server as well.

Next step is to see if the hostname is properly set in the /etc/hosts file of the server. SSH to your server as root and make sure the hostname is set as follows:

ServerIP  server.abc.com server

If you still continue to receive the alert message even if hostname is resolving to your server IP, disable the IP DNS check option in WHM.

WHM >> Server Contacts >> "IP Address DNS Check"

NOTE: If the hostname is resolving properly to your server, it is safe to ignore/disable these alerts. It is not going to effect the working of your server/websites in any ways.

This entry was posted on Sunday, March 14th, 2010 and is filed under cPanel Management. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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