Connecting Site To Cloudflare

Link: https://support.brilliantdirectories.com/support/solutions/articles/12000084176

Cloudflare helps websites load faster, stay online, and stay protected from cyber threats. It works by directing traffic through its global network of servers, which speeds up loading times and blocks attacks from hackers, spam, and harmful bots. Think of it as a security and performance booster that keeps everything running smoothly in the background.

For website owners, this means less downtime, better protection, and a faster experience for visitors. Cloudflare also helps manage traffic efficiently, reduces strain on the website’s server, and improves search engine rankings. With features like automatic caching, security filters, and smart traffic routing, it makes running a website easier and more reliable.

Create an Account

Create an account with Cloudflare (or Log In) and select "Add Domain":

Add the domain:

When adding the domain to Cloudflare, there three options for the DNS Records:

Quick scan for DNS records
Manually enter DNS records
Upload a DNS zone file

We recommend selecting "Quick scan for DNS records". The system will import any existing DNS records from the domain registrar.

If this is a new domain, select this option anyway.

Cloudflare Plans

There are four plans, three of them are paid.

Select the Free version:

Hit "Continue":

Connect Cloudflare to Website

The steps to connect a website to Cloudflare depend on whether the domain is already using other nameservers or if it’s a brand-new domain that hasn’t been connected to any nameservers yet.

How to Update Nameservers (GoDaddy, Namecheap, etc...)

Existing Website

Cloudflare will import the existing DNS records using the "Quick scan for DNS records" option when the domain is added to Cloudflare.

Cloudflare will then provides two nameservers that need to be connected in the Domain Registrar settings.

In a separate browser tab, log in to the domain registrar, go to the DNS settings, and remove the BD nameservers before adding the new ones from Cloudflare.

Remove the Brilliant Directories nameservers:

Now add the ones that Cloudflare provided:

New Domain

When a domain is added to Cloudflare but there aren't any DNS records besides what the websites comes with by default the process changes.

In the Cloudflare dashboard the domain will show "Invalid nameservers":

Click on that link and Cloudflare will present the new nameservers:

Add those to the domain registrar.

Back in Cloudflare, in the dashboard, click on the three dots and select "Configure DNS":

On the DNS Records page, additional records need to be added:

Clicking on "Add Record" will display fields to enter in a few records from the website, found in cPanel.

cPanel Records

Every website comes with DNS records in the websites cPanel. In a different tab open the BD website, following the instructions below to open the DNS records:

>> Developer Hub » cPanel Dashboard

Here is a list of the records that need to be copied over into Cloudflare: