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dnsmigrator

Namecheap BasicDNS UniFi Network

Migrate DNS from Namecheap to UniFi.

5 record types move as they are. 2 things work differently at UniFi, 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

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 UniFi

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

Namecheap UniFi

  • UnsupportedALIAS@

    Not migrated

    @ is an alias to app.example-host.net at the zone apex. UniFi 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

    UniFi 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 UniFi.

  • 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 UniFi

    Connect UniFi (API key (X-API-Key) + controller URL or UniFi console ID (via api.ui.com)). 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 UniFi

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

  5. 5

    Verify

    We query UniFi'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 UniFi

  • Consoles usually sit on a private network; we refuse private addresses by design, so either use the console ID (reached through api.ui.com) or expose the console publicly over HTTPS.
  • A publicly trusted TLS certificate is required when connecting directly: we never skip certificate verification, so the console's default self-signed certificate will not work.
  • Records are one flat list per site (no zones); only A, AAAA and CNAME have a configurable TTL, and TXT values are limited to 255 characters without double quotes.

Access we need: A UniFi API key acts with the role of the admin who created it; create it from an admin limited to network settings where possible. It can read and write static DNS entries.

Questions

Will there be downtime moving from Namecheap to UniFi?

Not if both providers serve the same answers during the switch. The records are copied to UniFi 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 UniFi and publish its new DS record. The cutover plan walks you through each step.

Related migrations

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