> ## Knowledge Base Index
> Fetch the complete knowledge base index at: https://help.elitehost.co.za/sitemap.xml
> Use this file to discover available pages before exploring further.
> Pure-Markdown content can be obtained by appending a '.md' suffix to the content URLs listed in the sitemap (without the trailing slash).

# Why is my domain in serverHold status?

A **serverHold** status on a domain occurs when the name servers do not contain any DNS zone information for your domain. This status prevents your domain from resolving correctly.

* **If you are using Elitehost's name servers, here are the possible reasons and solutions:**

**Domain registered before hosting was activated**: If the domain was registered before hosting was activated, the DNS check may have failed because no zone existed on our name servers at the time of registration. 

**Solution:** Ensure hosting is activated, or domain is added as as an alias or addon domain in cPanel. Then, update your domain's name servers to:  
  **ns3.za-dns.com** and **ns5.za-dns.com** - refer to this article: [How can I change or update the nameservers for my domain?](/en/article/how-can-i-change-or-update-the-nameservers-for-my-domain-1blr9s3/)

* **If you are using external name servers:**

**Missing DNS Zone**: The name servers may not have a DNS zone for your domain, or they may not contain valid NS records.

**Solution**: Try updating the name servers again and contact your external hosting provider to ensure that the DNS zone exists and is correctly configured on their name servers.