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DNSmigrator

UltraDNS (DigiCert) Cloudflare DNS

Migrate DNS from UltraDNS to Cloudflare.

15 record types move as they are. 3 things work differently at Cloudflare, and the preview shows exactly which of your records they affect.

Free preview. Read-only. Nothing changes until you apply.

UltraDNS to Cloudflare DNS migration differences

Generated from the same provider capability data the migration engine uses.

Moves as-is

  • A
  • AAAA
  • CNAME
  • MX
  • TXT
  • NS
  • SRV
  • CAA
  • PTR
  • DS
  • HTTPS
  • SVCB
  • TLSA
  • SSHFP
  • NAPTR

Alias records are converted

UltraDNS alias records become CNAMEs at Cloudflare. At the apex, Cloudflare flattens them automatically.

TTLs below 60s are raised

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

A typical UltraDNS zone at Cloudflare

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

UltraDNS Cloudflare

  • 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.

Set up the connections

Use the provider-specific credential guides before you preview, then keep the migration checklist beside the cutover plan.

How the move works

  1. 1

    Connect UltraDNS

    Connect UltraDNS with read-only access (API user name and password (OAuth password grant)).

  2. 2

    Connect Cloudflare

    Connect Cloudflare (Scoped API token). 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 Cloudflare

    We snapshot the Cloudflare zone, write in batches, and leave UltraDNS untouched.

  5. 5

    Verify

    We query Cloudflare'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 UltraDNS

  • Traffic-management pools (SiteBacker, Traffic Controller, Directional and Simple Load Balancing) are copied as plain answers and flagged; we never change or delete them on UltraDNS.
  • Resource Distribution pools keep their pool settings when we update their answers.
  • ALIAS is written as UltraDNS Apex Alias, which only works at the zone apex, can't coexist with both A and AAAA at the apex, and can't be used in statically signed zones.
  • SOA, apex NS and system-generated records (such as Valimail DMARC records) are managed by UltraDNS and left untouched.
  • Web Forwards and secondary or alias zones aren't migrated; secondary and alias zones are read-only.
  • UltraDNS locks an account after repeated failed logins, so double-check the password before retrying.

Access we need: Create a dedicated API-only user in a group limited to DNS operations (the built-in TECHNICAL group, or a custom group with DNS read and write). A REPORTING or ungrouped user is enough for a read-only preview. The REST API doesn't support multi-factor login, so MFA must be off for this user.

Good to know about Cloudflare

  • Proxied (orange-cloud) records hide the origin IP. Moving them to another provider sends traffic straight to the origin.
  • Apex CNAMEs are flattened by Cloudflare. Other providers need an ALIAS record or static A/AAAA records instead.
  • Cloudflare Registrar only allows Cloudflare nameservers, so domains registered there must be transferred out first.

Access we need: Zone → DNS → Read for the preview, Zone → DNS → Edit to apply. Redirect and Worker route records also need Zone → Single Redirect → Edit and Zone → Workers Routes → Edit.

Questions

Will there be downtime moving from UltraDNS to Cloudflare?

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

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

Related migrations

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