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Google Cloud DNS AutoDNS (InterNetX)

Migrate DNS from Cloud DNS to AutoDNS.

9 record types move as they are. 4 things work differently at AutoDNS, 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

Routing policies are flattened

AutoDNS has no routing policies. Weighted, geo and latency sets collapse into one set of answers, and failover keeps only the primary. Each one is flagged for review.

TTLs below 60s are raised

AutoDNS's minimum TTL is 60 seconds. Shorter TTLs are raised to 60s and shown as translated.

AutoDNS rewrites the whole host list

Every write to AutoDNS's API replaces all records. We read, merge and write once, so records outside the migration survive.

A typical Cloud DNS zone at AutoDNS

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

Cloud DNS AutoDNS

  • ExactA@

    192.0.2.40

  • 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.

  • ReviewAeu

    192.0.2.41 +1

    Geo routing isn't available at the destination. All 2 answers are served together as simple round-robin.

  • ExactCNAMEwww

    example.com.

How the move works

  1. 1

    Connect Cloud DNS

    Connect Cloud DNS with read-only access (Service account key (JSON)).

  2. 2

    Connect AutoDNS

    Connect AutoDNS (API user + password + context (Basic auth), optional TOTP 2FA 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 AutoDNS

    We snapshot the AutoDNS zone, write in batches, and leave Cloud DNS untouched.

  5. 5

    Verify

    We query AutoDNS'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 Cloud DNS

  • Routing policies (weighted round robin, geolocation, failover) don't carry over to most providers.
  • Apex CNAMEs are not allowed.

Access we need: roles/dns.reader for the preview, roles/dns.admin to apply.

Good to know about AutoDNS

  • AutoDNS replaces the whole zone on each update, so we read, merge and write the full record list.
  • Legacy zones with a "main" IP (and automatic www record) are converted into normal A records on the first write.
  • TXT values lose interior double quotes, unpaired backslashes and leading or trailing spaces.

Access we need: A sub-user with the zone info and zone list ACLs for the preview; zone update (and zone create to create zones) to apply.

Questions

Will there be downtime moving from Cloud DNS to AutoDNS?

Not if both providers serve the same answers during the switch. The records are copied to AutoDNS 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 Cloud DNS?

No. We never write to Cloud DNS. 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 AutoDNS and publish its new DS record. The cutover plan walks you through each step.

Ready to see your own zone?

Start a free preview