<sup>[Prerequisites](prerequisites.md) > Configuring your DNS settings > [Getting the playbook](getting-the-playbook.md) > [Configuring the playbook](configuring-playbook.md) > [Installing](installing.md)</sup>
In the sample `vars.yml` ([`examples/vars.yml`](../examples/vars.yml)), we recommend to use a short user ID like `@alice:example.com` instead of `@alice:matrix.example.com`.
To use such an ID, you don't need to install anything on the actual `example.com` server. Instead, you need to instruct the Matrix network that Matrix services for `example.com` are redirected over to `matrix.example.com`. This redirection is also known as "delegation".
- Setting up a `/.well-known/matrix/server` file on the base domain (`example.com`)
- Setting up a `_matrix._tcp` DNS SRV record
For simplicity reasons, this playbook recommends you to set up server delegation via a `/.well-known/matrix/server` file, instead of using a DNS SRV record.
If you choose the recommended method (file-based delegation), you do not need to configure the DNS record to enable server delegation. You will need to add a necessary configuration later, when you [finalize the installation](installing.md#finalize-the-installation) after installing and starting Matrix services.
On the other hand, if you choose this method (setting up a DNS SRV record), you need to configure the additional DNS record as well as adjust SSL certificate handling. Take a look at this documentation for more information: [Server Delegation via a DNS SRV record (advanced)](howto-server-delegation.md#server-delegation-via-a-dns-srv-record-advanced)
To serve the base domain (`example.com`) and [Element Web](configuring-playbook-client-element-web.md) with the default subdomain, adjust DNS records as below.
| Type | Host | Priority | Weight | Port | Target |
As the table illustrates, you need to create 2 subdomains (`matrix.example.com` and `element.example.com`) and point both of them to your server's IP address (DNS `A` record or `CNAME` record is fine).
The `element.example.com` subdomain is necessary, because this playbook installs the [Element Web](https://github.com/element-hq/element-web) client for you by default. If you'd rather instruct the playbook not to install Element Web (`matrix_client_element_enabled: false` when [Configuring the playbook](configuring-playbook.md) later), feel free to skip the `element.example.com` DNS record.
**Note**: if you are using Cloudflare DNS, make sure to disable the proxy and set all records to "DNS only". Otherwise, fetching certificates will fail.
[▶️](getting-the-playbook.md) When you're done with the DNS configuration and ready to proceed, continue with [Getting the playbook](getting-the-playbook.md).
