Connecting to Google Apps

This article assumes that the information you need to set up Google Apps is available and an account with Google has been setup or is in the process of being setting up.

Google Apps requires some changes to be made to the domain DNS records in order to connect to their services. When setting up a Google Apps account, Google requires CNAME and MX records to be created to connect their services to your domain name.

Modifying or adding the required MX and CNAME records is done within the Zone Manager of your Netregistry account.

Note: Netregistry doesn't manage or provide support for Google products or services. For assistance with any Google Apps related issues, please contact Google directly or read through their help articles.

Adding CNAME records

To do this with a domain registered with Netregistry:

1. Login to the Console
2. Click 'Edit DNS' next to the domain you want to edit
3. The Zone Manager page displays a table with the domains' zone records. A, CNAME, MX, NS, TXT or SRV records may be changed here
   Note: If you don't have the Zone Manager option, you may have to purchase Domain Manager
4. Click CNAME
5. In the following pop up complete the applicable fields:
   Name - type the unique Google Apps string, e.g. googlefffggghhh12345. This must be provided by Google Apps
   TTL - Time to Live. Not applicable
   Host - Google refer to this as the Value/Destination
6. Click [Add Record]

Please allow two to four hours for propagation and for Google to verify that you own your domain.

Some Google Apps services use custom URLs (such as calender, webmail, docs, etc). Each CNAME name field will reflect these services, while the Host field should be ghs.google.com.

Adding MX records

To point your MX records towards Google's servers, copy their current mail server names and preference requirements from their support pages.

1. Login to the Console
2. Click 'Edit DNS' next to the domain you want to edit
3. The Zone Manager page displays a table with the domains' zone records. A, CNAME, MX, NS, TXT or SRV records may be changed here.
   Note: If you do not have the Zone Manager option, you may have to purchase Domain Manager.
4. Click MX
5. In the following pop up complete the applicable fields:
   Name - leave blank
   TTL - Time to Live. Not applicable
   Preference - type the corresponding preference to the Google mail server, e.g. 10, 20, 30
   Exchange - Type the Google mail server name, e.g. ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.COM
   Is host fully qualified? - Selected
6. Click [Add Record]
7. Repeat these steps until you've added all of the Google mail servers into your MX records

Note: Netregistry includes MX records by default with any parked domain or hosting service. This may cause a conflict with the Google mail exchange, and the default Netregistry MX records should be disabled to avoid said conflict.

Removing Netregistry's MX records from zone manager

Warning: When disabling email, all associated email accounts will be deleted and emails stored on our servers will be erased. Ensure that any important emails has been stored/backed up. Contact Netregistry support for further information or assistance.

To disable the Netregistry MX records:

1. Login to The Console
2. Manage the domain you want to make changes to
3. Click 'Email' in the left column
4. Click Click here to disable Email
5. Read the displayed warning (detailed above) then click [OK]
6. The Netregistry MX records are removed from your zone