IP does not resolve to host name

Is this important?

[grandma genie]

Hello everyone,

I wasn't sure where to post this, so am putting it in here. If it should be in a different forum, please let me know.

My business/hobby website has been on a shared server for awhile and I knew about this, but don't know if it is a problem or not. My website IP address does not resolve to the host name. I know other IPs by this host do resolve, but mine does not. Is that a problem? Can my host fix it? Should they?

As far as my regular email goes, the ISP I use at home is fine. That IP does resolve to the ISP's name. It is just my website IP that does not resolve. I get this when I try to resolve it: no reverse DNS for this IP. Just wanted to know if this is a problem.

Thank you all for your very knowledgeable and helpful expertise.
Grandma_genie

[lammert]

Most Internet protocols do not require that a reverse PTR record for an IP address exists, or has a specific value. The only exception is the SMTP protocol which is used for email exchange over the Internet. This protocol requires that an IP address resolves back to a hostname, although the SMTP protocol does not require that the reverse address has to be a specific format.

You therefore won't have problems if you only serve a website from your server, but if from this IP address are also emails originating--for example if you have a contact me form on the site--it is better to request a reverse PTR record for your IP address. Otherwise emails may get lost.

[grandma genie]

Yes, I do have a contact me form on the site. I'll ask the host if they can handle this request for a reverse PTR record for my IP address. Thank you for your very quick reply.