Understanding how Ezoic's Name Server Integration works is crucial for optimizing your website's performance and ad testing capabilities. This article delves into the mechanics of Ezoic’s integration process, explaining how the platform acts as a proxy. We'll cover the steps involved in setting up your site with Ezoic, how DNS records are managed, and what happens when your site is toggled on or off in the system. By the end of this article, you'll have a clear comprehension of how Ezoic handles traffic requests and ensures seamless content delivery while supporting your ad testing endeavors.

The Ezoic platform automates multivariate testing by acting as a proxy, which is typically achieved by changing name servers at your registrar or installing the Cloudflare app if you are a Cloudflare customer.

When you add a site to the Ezoic system, either by creating a new account or adding a site to your existing Ezoic account, the current DNS records are imported and replicated in your Ezoic dashboard. These include all canonical values such as www, A records, and MX records for email.

If the site is marked as OFF in Ezoic, all requests are passed directly to your host. It is recommended to keep the Ezoic system off while setting up EzoicAds.

When the system is turned on, the dashboard settings you configure will direct a portion of the traffic to the testing setup and the rest to the original setup.

When a user visits the website, their browser calls for the content and is directed to the name servers for the site. Ezoic manages these requests and directs the user to the IP address of the HTML, either pulling in cached versions from a CDN or directly from your host. All requests are called back to your original server using the IP address of your host. Ezoic then sends the user to an experimental page (which includes EzoicAds ads) or serves the content normally.

In summary, the DNS settings at your registrar or Cloudflare are replicated in your Ezoic dashboard under Settings > DNS. Your website content IP does not change. All DNS records are replicated in Ezoic to ensure they adhere to the same rules for the site. Ezoic creates Cloudfront DNS settings in the Ezoic DNS to ensure that all Ezoic sites get CDN support (caching content either with Cloudflare or Amazon's Cloudfront). When the site is OFF in the system, all requests continue to go to the same IP.

1. Ensure Accuracy of DNS Settings: Double-check that the DNS settings in your Ezoic dashboard match those at your host. This prevents any disruptions in site functionality.
2. Use Ezoic's Cloudflare Integration: If you are a Cloudflare customer, install the Cloudflare app within your Ezoic dashboard for smoother integration and management of DNS settings.
3. Regularly Monitor Traffic Distribution: Once the system is turned on, monitor how the dashboard settings direct traffic between the Ezoic pages and the original setup to optimize ad performance and user experience.
4. Understand Request Handling: Be aware that all user requests are routed through Ezoic, which can serve content from the cache or your original server. This knowledge can help diagnose any issues that arise with content delivery.
5. Regular Updates and Testing: Periodically review and update your DNS settings in Ezoic to ensure they match those at the host.
6. Monitor End-User Experience: Keep an eye on the end-user experience to ensure that the automated testing and traffic redirection are not adversely affecting site performance or accessibility.