DNS - Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is DNS?

The Domain Name System (DNS) is the way that Internet domain names are located and translated into Internet Protocol (IP) addresses and vice versa.

A domain name is a meaningful and easy-to-remember name for an Internet address.
Please note that NHS Connecting for Health holds control over the .nhs.uk namespace.

e.g. www.yourorg.nhs.uk points to the IP address 127.235.26.191 (& vice versa.)

It is a hierarchical system, meaning that each parent domain is authoritative to its child domain.

i.e. In the example of applications.yourorg.nhs.uk

The .nhs.uk portion is authoritative to the yourorg portion which is authoritative to the applications sub-domain.

In the N3, all non-trust (external) name resolution is provided by forwarding requests to the N3 name servers.

Use of Forwarders on the N3 (N3 connection required)

2. What are the guidelines for naming websites?

Healthcare entities are encouraged to follow the Department of Health Guidelines.

It is advised that your main domain name is recognisable nationally. While the guidelines are not as strict as for email addressing, generic names (e.g. localhealthcampaign.nhs.uk) are not advisable unless it is aimed nationally.

It is advised that after obtaining your main domain name (yourorg.nhs.uk,) any future requests to add host names, applications or services should create and apply for a sub-domain (child domain) below the main domain name.

e.g. nww.department.yourorg.nhs.uk
or www.localhealthcampaign.yourorg.nhs.uk
or www.application.yourorg.nhs.uk

This is so as to improve performance of the NHS DNS servers and to maintain a hierarchical naming structure within the NHS as a whole.

If there are extenuating reasons for your site to be named differently, please e-mail dnsteam@nhs.net for guidance.

Websites FAQs – Creating an NHS Website

3. What is delegation and why is it prohibited?

Delegation, that is, to delegate control of a namespace to a local name server, is not preferred N3 policy.

This is because the NHS needs to be able to assure the quality, timeliness and accuracy of DNS entries for domains that deliver nationally important applications effectively. Participants gain from the resilience and extra security it provides to the NHS community.

With respect to external (www) web site registration; we cannot delegate the domain name to the Internet Service Providers. The .nhs.uk namespace is dedicated for use within our private N3 Network. Therefore, we can only allow 'Address' records or 'CNAME' records on our external DNS servers.

4. How do I register my URL?

You have the choice of using an online form, or a downloadable .pdf document which can be faxed to us.

5. What information do I need to provide?

Please provide the following details:

Contact details for your Web or IT Manager.
The specific domain name.
IP (internet protocol) address.
Whether your site is to be seen on the internet (www.) or the N3 (nww.) or both.
Contact details (including organisation code – if relevant.)

6. How much will registration cost?

Registration is free.

7. How long will it take to add the records?

Usually, it will take one to two working days.

8. How can I make an application/service added onto N3 and access it using a hostname?

It is the same procedure as adding the web server on the N3. Complete the DNS forms but request without the nww prefix.

e.g. waitinglist.yourorg.nhs.uk

9. Can I point new internet (www.) domain name at an existing external site?

Yes, you can. This is called a CNAME request.

e.g. www.yourorg.nhs.uk pointed to www.yourorg.net

To action this request, please e-mail dnsteam@nhs.net, requesting a CNAME and providing all relevant domain names and IP addresses. Usually, this takes three to four working days to process.

10. I would like to set up an N3 (nww.) website but I have been told that my IP address is not routable?

For security reasons, only certain IP addresses are usable on the N3. For guidance on this matter, please e-mail dnsteam@nhs.net.

11. I would like to change the IP address of my web/mail server, what do I do now?

Either complete the relevant registration form, or e-mail dnsteam@nhs.net directly with your request.

12. Due to our name change, we now have an unused, obsolete domain name, what do we do with the old address?

For ease of migration, healthcare entities can use their old domain names (often containing regional sub-domains) for a few months after the changeover.

e.g. www.yourorg.wmids.nhs.uk

After this period, it is advised that you inform NHS Connecting for Health so as we can remove the old records. This is so as to improve the efficiency of the N3 name servers. If you have old addresses, please e-mail dnsteam@nhs.net, so as it can be removed from the name servers.

13. How can my organisation unregister redundant or obsolete .nhs.uk namespaces? (FAQ Added 22/01/03)

Follow guidance to unregister redundant or obsolete .nhs.uk namespaces inc registrations not only for SMTP email, but also websites (both www and nww) as well as ftp and webmail sites. HTML

14. What is the NHS Connecting for Health Policy on nhs.uk Namespace?

Follow the link which will take you to the NHS Connecting for Health Policy on the nhs.uk Namespace

DNS - Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Connecting for Health