How to connect your domain with a Cloudflare account
What is Cloudflare
Cloudflare is a service that protects your websites from DDOS (denial-of-service) attacks and uses caching to optimise your content delivery across the world. It also helps you to manage your domain, keeping it secure using self-signed or issued security certificates. A paid Cloudflare account comes with inbuilt analytics, web application firewalls, lossless image optimisation and many other additional features.
Why do you need one
Even by just using a free Cloudflare account, you can keep your website secure and help balance the load your server has to endure through caching. It will also hide your IP and help load your website load much faster.
Connecting your existing domain with a Cloudflare account
1. Sign up for a Cloudflare account
2. Add your site (domain name)
3. Select your plan (there is a free tier)
4. Let Cloudflare import the DNS records of your domain - If you don't have any DNS records the list will appear empty for you.
5. To complete the setup you need to change the name servers in your domain registrar to the nameservers provided by Cloudflare.
6. When you are done you will have successfully linked your domain to the Cloudflare account. Make sure the proxy is turned on the DNS setting to keep your IP protected.
You have successfully connected your domain to a Cloudflare account.
Note:- If you are planning to connect your domain to your server once you have finished setting up your Cloudflare account, go to the DNS section of your account dashboard and add an "A" record with the name as "@" and content as your "server IP". This will make sure your visitors will reach your website when they enter your domain name or URL in a web browser.
