Skip to content
dnsmigrator

Akamai Edge DNS Azure Private DNS

Migrate DNS from Akamai to Azure Private DNS.

7 record types move as they are. 2 things work differently at Azure Private DNS, and the preview shows exactly which of your records they affect.

Free preview. Read-only. Nothing changes until you apply.

What works differently

Generated from the same provider capability data the migration engine uses.

Moves as-is

  • A
  • AAAA
  • CNAME
  • MX
  • TXT
  • SRV
  • PTR

Alias records are converted

Akamai alias records become CNAMEs below the apex. At the apex they need static addresses, and the preview shows which ones.

A typical Akamai zone at Azure Private DNS

Example records for example.com. Open any flagged row to read why it changed.

Akamai Azure Private DNS

  • ExactA@

    192.0.2.70

  • ExactAAAA@

    2001:db8::70

  • ExactMX@

    10 mx1.mail.example.net. +1

  • ExactTXT@

    "v=spf1 include:_spf.example.net -all"

  • UnsupportedCAA@

    Not migrated

    Azure Private DNS doesn't support CAA records through its API.

  • ExactTXT_dmarc

    "v=DMARC1; p=reject; rua=mailto:dmarc@example.com"

  • ExactSRV_sip._tls

    100 1 443 sip.example.net.

  • ExactCNAMEwww

    example.com.

How the move works

  1. 1

    Connect Akamai

    Connect Akamai with read-only access (EdgeGrid API client (host, client token, client secret, access token)).

  2. 2

    Connect Azure Private DNS

    Connect Azure Private DNS (Service principal (client ID + secret)). Write access is only used when you apply.

  3. 3

    Review the preview

    Check every record marked Review or Unsupported. Each one explains what changes and why.

  4. 4

    Apply to Azure Private DNS

    We snapshot the Azure Private DNS zone, write in batches, and leave Akamai untouched.

  5. 5

    Verify

    We query Azure Private DNS's own nameservers for every record and compare the answers before you switch.

  6. 6

    Switch nameservers

    Lower TTLs a day or two ahead, remove any DS record if DNSSEC is on, then point the domain at the new nameservers at your registrar.

Good to know about Akamai

  • AKAMAICDN and non-DUAL AKAMAITLC records point at Akamai edge hostnames. Other providers have no equivalent, so recreate them as CNAME or ALIAS records by hand.
  • Apex ALIAS records are stored as AKAMAITLC records with the DUAL answer type. ALIAS records below the apex become CNAMEs.
  • TXT values can't contain double quotes or backslashes.

Access we need: DNS—Zone Record Management API: READ-ONLY for the preview, READ-WRITE to apply.

Good to know about Azure Private DNS

  • Private zones only resolve inside Azure virtual networks linked to the zone, so changes can't be checked with public DNS lookups.
  • Link the zone to your virtual networks after migrating; records auto-registered by VMs are skipped.
  • Only A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, PTR, SRV and TXT records are supported; NS and CAA aren't.

Access we need: Reader on the resource group for the preview; Private DNS Zone Contributor to apply or create zones.

Questions

Will there be downtime moving from Akamai to Azure Private DNS?

Not if both providers serve the same answers during the switch. The records are copied to Azure Private DNS and verified before you change nameservers, so resolvers get the same answer from either side while caches expire.

Do I have to delete anything at Akamai?

No. We never write to Akamai. Keep the old zone for a week after cutover so you can switch back instantly if anything looks wrong.

What about DNSSEC?

If DNSSEC is on, remove the DS record at your registrar and wait for it to expire before switching nameservers. Then enable DNSSEC at Azure Private DNS and publish its new DS record. The cutover plan walks you through each step.

Related migrations

Ready to see your own zone?

Start a free preview