DNS Made Easy IBM NS1 Connect
Migrate DNS from DNS Made Easy to NS1.
11 record types move as they are. 1 things work differently at NS1, 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
- SPF
- ALIAS
URL, URL301, FRAME aren't available
A typical DNS Made Easy zone at NS1
Example records for example.com. Open any flagged row to read why it changed.
DNS Made Easy NS1
- 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 NS1 | 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 DNS Made Easy
Connect DNS Made Easy with read-only access (API key + secret key (HMAC-SHA1 signed requests)).
- 2
Connect NS1
Connect NS1 (API key). 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 NS1
We snapshot the NS1 zone, write in batches, and leave DNS Made Easy untouched.
- 5
Verify
We query NS1'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 DNS Made Easy
- The API allows 150 requests per 5 minutes per key, so large zones can take several minutes to apply.
- Only records in the DEFAULT Global Traffic Director location are read and changed.
- System NS records are managed by DNS Made Easy; HTTP redirects (HTTPRED) map to URL, URL301 and FRAME records.
Access we need: API keys act with the permissions of the user they belong to; that user needs read access for the preview and edit rights on the domains to apply.
Good to know about NS1
- Records that use filter chains, answer metadata, data feeds or record links are copied as plain answers only and flagged in their comment. We never overwrite them on NS1.
- DNSSEC has to be available on the NS1 account before it can be turned on for a zone.
- NS1 changes one record set per request, so large zones take longer and count against the API rate limit.
Access we need: DNS → View zones for the preview; DNS → View zones and Manage zones to apply.
Questions
Will there be downtime moving from DNS Made Easy to NS1?
Not if both providers serve the same answers during the switch. The records are copied to NS1 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 DNS Made Easy?
No. We never write to DNS Made Easy. 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 NS1 and publish its new DS record. The cutover plan walks you through each step.
Ready to see your own zone?
Start a free preview