ClouDNS Gandi LiveDNS
Migrate DNS from ClouDNS to Gandi.
16 record types move as they are. 3 things work differently at Gandi, 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
- NS
- SRV
- CAA
- PTR
- ALIAS
- DNAME
- TLSA
- SSHFP
- DS
- NAPTR
- SPF
Routing policies are flattened
CLOUDNS_WR isn't available
TTLs below 300s are raised
A typical ClouDNS zone at Gandi
Example records for example.com. Open any flagged row to read why it changed.
ClouDNS Gandi
- ExactA@
192.0.2.70
- ExactAAAA@
2001:db8::70
- ExactMX@
10 mx1.mail.example.net. +1
- ExactTXT@
"v=spf1 include:_spf.example.net -all"
- ExactCAA@
0 issue "letsencrypt.org"
- ExactTXT_dmarc
"v=DMARC1; p=reject; rua=mailto:dmarc@example.com"
- ExactSRV_sip._tls
100 1 443 sip.example.net.
- ExactCNAMEwww
example.com.
| Status | Type | Name | At Gandi | TTL | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exact | A | @ |
| 5m | |
| Exact | AAAA | @ |
| 5m | |
| Exact | MX | @ |
| 1h | |
| Exact | TXT | @ |
| 1h | |
| Exact | CAA | @ |
| 1h | |
| Exact | TXT | _dmarc |
| 1h | |
| Exact | SRV | _sip._tls |
| 1h | |
| Exact | CNAME | www |
| 1h |
How the move works
- 1
Connect ClouDNS
Connect ClouDNS with read-only access (API user auth ID (or sub-user ID/name) + password).
- 2
Connect Gandi
Connect Gandi (Personal access token (legacy API key also accepted)). Write access is only used when you apply.
- 3
Review the preview
Check every record marked Review or Unsupported. Each one explains what changes and why.
- 4
Apply to Gandi
We snapshot the Gandi zone, write in batches, and leave ClouDNS untouched.
- 5
Verify
We query Gandi's own nameservers for every record and compare the answers before you switch.
- 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 ClouDNS
- TTLs must be one of ClouDNS's fixed values (60, 300, 900, 1800, 3600, 21600 … 2592000); other TTLs are rounded up.
- Web redirects (CLOUDNS_WR) are ClouDNS-only and are written as plain 301 redirects without frame options.
- The API is rate limited to about 20 requests per second per IP, so large zones apply record by record and take a while.
Access we need: A read-only API sub-user with the zones delegated is enough for the preview; applying needs a read-and-write sub-user or a main API user.
Good to know about Gandi
- LiveDNS only hosts zones for domains in your Gandi organization, so zones can't be created for domains registered elsewhere.
- ALIAS records are only allowed at the zone apex; TTLs must be between 300 seconds and 30 days.
- Apex NS records are managed by Gandi and are left untouched.
Access we need: A token with “Manage domain name technical configurations”, scoped to the domains you move. Gandi has no read-only LiveDNS permission.
Questions
Will there be downtime moving from ClouDNS to Gandi?
Not if both providers serve the same answers during the switch. The records are copied to Gandi 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 ClouDNS?
No. We never write to ClouDNS. 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 Gandi and publish its new DS record. The cutover plan walks you through each step.
Ready to see your own zone?
Start a free preview