Setup guide

Connect your domain to Flare53.

You only update DNS. We handle the rest. Follow the steps in order — your website keeps running the whole time.

How it works

Four steps, in order

1Add your domain

Enter your domain and origin in the Flare53 dashboard.

2Update DNS records

Copy the SSL record we show into your DNS provider.

3Verify SSL

We detect the record and issue your free SSL certificate.

4Traffic goes fast

Add the final DNS record. Visitors now route through Flare53.

Important: do not change the final website DNS until Flare53 says SSL is ready. Changing too early can show SSL errors to visitors.
Step 2 of 4

The SSL validation DNS record

This record proves you control the domain, so we can issue your SSL certificate. Your real values appear on your Setup Status page after you add your domain. The values below are examples of what it looks like.

Type
CNAME
Host / Name
_abc123.www
Value / Target
_xyz789.acm-validations.aws
TTL
Auto or 300

Example values Copy your real values from the Setup Status page — these are only to show the format.

Step 3 of 4

SSL verification happens automatically

After you add the record, there is nothing else to do. Flare53 checks for it automatically and issues the certificate. This usually takes minutes, sometimes up to a few hours if DNS is slow to update.

You add one CNAME record.
We detect it and issue SSL for free.
You get an email when it is ready.
Step 4 of 4

The final DNS change

Once SSL is ready, point your website domain at Flare53. This is the moment traffic starts flowing through the speed layer.

Type
CNAME
Host / Name
www
Value / Target
d123456abcdef.cloudfront.net
TTL
Auto or 300

Example values Your real target appears on the Setup Status page when it is safe to change.

Helpful tips

Small things that save time

✂️
Short name vs full name

Most DNS providers want the short name (like www). Use the full name only if your provider asks for a full record name or FQDN.

🚫
Never paste https://

DNS values are hostnames only. Do not include https:// in any DNS name or target.

🌐
Root domains

Using example.com without www? Your DNS provider must support ALIAS, ANAME, or CNAME flattening. If not, start with www.

🛡️
Protect your origin last

Only restrict direct access to your server after Flare53 is active and tested. Blocking too early can break your site.

Ready for your real DNS values?

Your Setup Status page shows the exact records to copy, live progress, and what to do next.

Open Setup Status →