Before Microsoft Online Services can integrate a domain into its service environment, we must verify that the domain is registered and up to date. The information in this topic will help you verify your domain with Microsoft Online Services. We also have domain-verification topics that are specific to frequently used domain registrars. If your domain is registered with one of these frequently used registrars, it is probably easier for you to use the specific topic instead of this one.
To see a list of specific domain registrar topics, see Verification Instructions for Specific Domain Registrars.
It might be helpful to become familiar with the terms used in the domain-verification process.
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Term
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Definition
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Domain
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An Internet address. A typical domain looks like this: contoso.com
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Domain registrar
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A company that registers and maintains Internet domain names. Every domain is registered at a domain registrar.
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Domain verification
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A process by which domain information is tested and confirmed to be true. Microsoft Online Services uses a CNAME to verify domain ownership.
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Alias
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A record that identifies, or points to, a specific domain.
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CNAME
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A record that identifies a specific domain. Literally, it means “canonical name.” A CNAME consists of an alias and a destination.
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DNS record
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Domain Name System record. This record allows a friendly domain name (contoso.com) to be translated into a complex Internet Protocol address (a series of numbers).
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Host name
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Synonymous with alias. Some domain registrars use the term alias. Others use the term host name.
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Destination
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Where you want your original domain e-mail to be sent.
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Points to address
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Another name for destination.
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Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN)
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A DNS domain name structured to state with certainty its location in the domain namespace tree.
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Whois
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A database that contains accurate and comprehensive contact information for Internet domains.
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These steps help walk you through the domain-verification process:
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Gather the information you need
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Create a record at a domain registrar
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Verify your domain
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You can add and verify a domain only once. If someone else in your company already added and verified a domain, you will receive an error message if you try to add the domain again.
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To gather the information you need
You must add a domain to the Microsoft Online Services Administration Center before you can follow these steps. For more information about adding a domain, see Add a Domain to Microsoft Online Services.
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Open the Microsoft Online Services Administration Center. On the Users tab, click Domains.
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In the All Domains pane, find the domain that you want to verify. In the Status column, click Verify Now.
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In the Verify Your Domain wizard, record two pieces of information:
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The first part of the Alias or Host Name. This is the part that comes before the first dot in the alias. The part you need should look like ms30048081. (Do not include the period.)
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The Destination or Points to Address.
You need these two pieces of information when you create an alias at your domain registrar.
To create a record at a domain registrar
Your domain registrar maintains information about your domain. In order for Microsoft Online Services to verify that your domain is registered and that you are the owner, you must create a record at your registrar that points your domain information to Microsoft Online Services. Microsoft Online Services will then check the record you created, which is known as a CNAME.
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Sign in to your domain registrar. If you do not have the sign-in credentials, contact the person who registered the domain. For more information, see Find Your Domain Registrar and DNS Host
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At your domain registrar, select the domain that you want to verify, and then select the options to add a CNAME or alias to the domain.
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In the CNAME or alias box for the domain, type or paste the part of the alias or host name that you recorded. This is the part that looks like ms30048081. (Do not include the period.)
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In the fully qualified domain name (FQDN) or points-to box, type or paste the destination address that you recorded.
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Save your changes, and then sign out from your domain registrar.
To verify your domain
It takes between 15 minutes and 72 hours for the alias you created at your domain registrar to propagate through the Internet. Wait at least 15 minutes before performing this step.
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Open the Microsoft Online Services Administration Center. On the Users tab, click Domains.
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In the All Domains pane, find the domain that you want to verify. In the Status column, click Verify Now.
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In the Verify Your Domain wizard, click Verify.
The Confirmation page opens, and the wizard makes a test connection to your domain to verify the domain.
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Click Close.
On the Domains page in Administration Center, the status of your domain is now listed as Verified. You can now add or migrate users. For more information, see About Using Your Domain with Microsoft Online Services.
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If you receive a verification error, sign in to your domain registrar account and confirm that you entered the alias and destination address information correctly. If changes are required, make the changes, wait at least 15 minutes, and then return to the previous page and verify your domain again.
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If the verification error still exists, the changes you made may need more time to propagate. Cancel the wizard and return again later.
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If the domain you verified was previously owned by a different Microsoft Online Services customer, you must wait 24 hours before you add users, contacts, or distribution lists to your new domain. This waiting period prevents possible access to the information by the previous owner of the domain.
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See Also