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dnsmigrator

Namecheap BasicDNS MikroTik RouterOS

Migrate DNS from Namecheap to MikroTik.

6 record types move as they are. 2 things work differently at MikroTik, 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

Alias records are converted

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

A typical Namecheap zone at MikroTik

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

Namecheap MikroTik

  • UnsupportedALIAS@

    Not migrated

    @ is an alias to app.example-host.net at the zone apex. MikroTik doesn't support apex aliases or CNAMEs.

  • ExactMX@

    10 mx1.mail.example.net. +1

  • ExactTXT@

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

  • UnsupportedCAA@

    Not migrated

    MikroTik doesn't support CAA records through its API.

  • ExactTXT_dmarc

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

  • ExactCNAMEblog

    example.github.io.

  • UnsupportedURL301go

    Not migrated

    URL301 is a Namecheap redirect feature, not a DNS record. Recreate it as a redirect rule at MikroTik.

  • ExactCNAMEwww

    example.com.

How the move works

  1. 1

    Connect Namecheap

    Connect Namecheap with read-only access (API user + API key, with our egress IP allow-listed).

  2. 2

    Connect MikroTik

    Connect MikroTik (RouterOS REST API URL + username + password (HTTP Basic, RouterOS v7.1+)). 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 MikroTik

    We snapshot the MikroTik zone, write in batches, and leave Namecheap untouched.

  5. 5

    Verify

    We query MikroTik'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 Namecheap

  • Namecheap's API replaces the whole host list on every write, so we always read, merge and then write.
  • SRV records can't be managed through the API.
  • URL redirect records are Namecheap-specific and aren't real DNS records.

Access we need: API access enabled under Profile → Tools, with our static IP added to the allow-list.

Good to know about MikroTik

  • Routers usually sit on a private network; we refuse private addresses by design, so the REST API (www-ssl) is only reachable if you expose it publicly over HTTPS.
  • RouterOS has no zones: we group static entries by the domains you list (or the last two labels of each name). Regexp entries, dynamic entries and disabled entries are not imported, and match-subdomain / address-list settings are kept on existing entries but not migrated elsewhere.
  • MIKROTIK_FORWARDER records live in the virtual zone _forwarders.mikrotik and need RouterOS 7.17 or newer.

Access we need: A user group with the read and rest-api policies for the preview; add the write policy to apply changes.

Questions

Will there be downtime moving from Namecheap to MikroTik?

Not if both providers serve the same answers during the switch. The records are copied to MikroTik 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 Namecheap?

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

Related migrations

Ready to see your own zone?

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