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dnsmigrator

BIND zone file ClouDNS

Import a zone file into ClouDNS.

15 record types move as they are. 2 things work differently at ClouDNS, 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
  • DS
  • TLSA
  • SSHFP
  • NAPTR
  • SPF
  • DNAME

TTLs below 60s are raised

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

A typical Zone file zone at ClouDNS

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

Zone file ClouDNS

  • ExactA@

    192.0.2.60

  • 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.

  • TranslatedAfast

    192.0.2.61

    TTL 30s is outside the allowed range. Set to 60s.

  • ExactSSHFPssh

    4 2 9d97e98f8af710c7e4f3b5b0b1f1b8c0c7e2a4b8c5a0e3b1f8d2c7a9b0e1f2a3

  • ExactCNAMEwww

    example.com.

How the move works

  1. 1

    Connect Zone file

    Paste or upload the zone file you want to move.

  2. 2

    Connect ClouDNS

    Connect ClouDNS (API user auth ID (or sub-user ID/name) + password). 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 ClouDNS

    We snapshot the ClouDNS zone, write in batches, and leave Zone file untouched.

  5. 5

    Verify

    We query ClouDNS'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 Zone file

  • Zone files can't express provider features like proxying, alias records or routing policies.

Access we need: No credentials. Everything stays in your browser until you choose to save it.

Good to know about ClouDNS

  • TTLs must be one of ClouDNS's fixed values (60, 300, 900, 1800, 3600, 21600 … 2592000); other TTLs are rounded up.
  • Web redirects (CLOUDNS_WR) are ClouDNS-only and are written as plain 301 redirects without frame options.
  • The API is rate limited to about 20 requests per second per IP, so large zones apply record by record and take a while.

Access we need: A read-only API sub-user with the zones delegated is enough for the preview; applying needs a read-and-write sub-user or a main API user.

Questions

Will there be downtime moving from Zone file to ClouDNS?

Not if both providers serve the same answers during the switch. The records are copied to ClouDNS 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 Zone file?

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

Related migrations

Ready to see your own zone?

Start a free preview