# Setup

> Protect a site with PingLess WAF in about five minutes: add your domain in the console, point DNS at the edge hostname, and lock down the origin.
>
> Canonical: https://xdp.network/docs/pingless-waf/setup · Updated 2026-08-09

Setting up PingLess WAF takes about five minutes and one DNS change. You add
your domain in the console, point DNS at the edge hostname you receive, and your
site is protected — nothing is installed on your server.

## Before you start

You need a domain you own, with access to its DNS records at your registrar or
DNS provider, and the address of your origin — the server that actually serves
your site. The base plan includes one origin and covers wildcard subdomains, so
`example.com` and `*.example.com` are protected together. WAF Pro lifts the
origin limit.

## 1. Add your domain in the console

Open PingLess WAF in the console and add your domain. You receive an edge
hostname — the address of our edge network for your site.

## 2. Point DNS at the edge

At your DNS provider, replace the record for your site with a `CNAME` record
pointing at the edge hostname. Do the same for the wildcard record if you use
subdomains. Once the change propagates, traffic flows through the edge and
protection is on.

## 3. Keep the origin safe

The WAF only filters traffic that passes through it. Anyone who discovers your
origin's IP address can try to reach the server directly and skip the edge
entirely.

:::tip
Once traffic flows through the edge, restrict your origin's firewall to edge
traffic only. Attackers then cannot bypass the WAF by hitting the origin IP
directly.
:::

## 4. Verify protection

Load your site in a browser — it answers through the edge as normal. In the
console, the domain shows as protected once traffic is flowing. The managed
ruleset is already filtering floods, bots, and common CVE exploits; see
[Rules and protections](/docs/pingless-waf/rules) for what is covered.

## Next steps

- [Rules and protections](/docs/pingless-waf/rules)
- [WAF vs WAF Pro](/docs/pingless-waf/waf-vs-waf-pro)
- [What is XDP.NETWORK](/docs/getting-started/what-is-xdp-network)