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DirectAdmin

Manage DNS-01 records through a DirectAdmin server via its API (username + password or login key).

Prerequisites

  • A DirectAdmin login that manages the DNS zone.
  • The panel reachable from CertAutoPilot over HTTPS (default :2222).
  • The domain must resolve publicly — unless you set Zone Name (below), which skips the public-DNS zone lookup.

Credentials

Use your DirectAdmin username and password (a login key with DNS permissions is recommended over the account password). Scope the login key to only the rights needed and rotate it.

Add the credential

  1. Settings → DNS CredentialsNewDirectAdmin.
  2. Server URL: https://da.example.com:2222.
  3. Username + Password (or login key).
  4. Optionally Zone Name — the exact zone (e.g. example.com) to operate in; set it to skip the public-DNS zone lookup (useful for internal/split-horizon domains).
  5. Test (with a domain) → Save.

Config fields

FieldRequiredPurpose
urlyesDirectAdmin server base URL (default port :2222).
usernameyesDirectAdmin login.
passwordyesDirectAdmin password or login key.
zone_namenoExact zone name; when set, skips the public-DNS zone lookup.

Propagation

The record is written to DirectAdmin's DNS; propagation depends on the server's nameservers. Default settings usually work.

Troubleshooting

401 / login failed

Wrong username/password or login key, or the key lacks DNS (CMD_API_DNS_CONTROL) permission.

"Zone not found"

The domain isn't a zone on this server. If it is but the public-DNS lookup fails (internal domain), set Zone Name to bypass the lookup.

See also