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IBM Cloud Classic (SoftLayer) DNS Bunny DNS

Migrate DNS from SoftLayer to Bunny.

8 record types move as they are. Nothing else needs special handling.

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
  • PTR

A straightforward move.

Every record type SoftLayer supports has a direct equivalent at Bunny.

A typical SoftLayer zone at Bunny

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

SoftLayer Bunny

  • 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.

How the move works

  1. 1

    Connect SoftLayer

    Connect SoftLayer with read-only access (Classic infrastructure username + API key).

  2. 2

    Connect Bunny

    Connect Bunny (Account API key). 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 Bunny

    We snapshot the Bunny zone, write in batches, and leave SoftLayer untouched.

  5. 5

    Verify

    We query Bunny'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 SoftLayer

  • Domains must already exist in the IBM Cloud classic DNS console. We can't create them.
  • Only A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, NS, PTR, SPF, SRV and TXT records are supported, so CAA records can't be migrated here.
  • The minimum TTL is 60 seconds, and the DNSControl provider for SoftLayer is unmaintained, so treat this integration with extra care.

Access we need: A classic infrastructure user with the Manage DNS permission for both preview and apply.

Good to know about Bunny

  • Pull Zone, Script and Flatten records, and disabled records, aren't migrated. Redirect records are read as URL redirects to recreate by hand.
  • Records that use smart routing (latency or geolocation) or CDN acceleration are flagged and never changed by us.
  • An apex CNAME is flattened by Bunny, so it can point at any hostname.

Access we need: The account API key has full access. There is no read-only key, so rotate it after the migration.

Questions

Will there be downtime moving from SoftLayer to Bunny?

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

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

Ready to see your own zone?

Start a free preview