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DNSmigrator

Zone transfer (AXFR/IXFR) deSEC

Migrate DNS from Zone transfer to deSEC.

22 record types move as they are. 1 things work differently at deSEC, and the preview shows exactly which of your records they affect.

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

Zone transfer to deSEC 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
  • TLSA
  • SSHFP
  • NAPTR
  • SPF
  • URI
  • DNAME
  • OPENPGPKEY
  • SMIMEA
  • DHCID
  • RP
  • HTTPS
  • SVCB

TTLs below 3600s are raised

deSEC's minimum TTL is 3600 seconds. Shorter TTLs are raised to 3600s and shown as translated.

A typical Zone transfer zone at deSEC

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

Zone transfer deSEC

  • TranslatedA@

    192.0.2.70

    TTL 300s is outside the allowed range. Set to 3600s.

  • TranslatedAAAA@

    2001:db8::70

    TTL 300s is outside the allowed range. Set to 3600s.

  • 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 Zone transfer

    Connect Zone transfer with read-only access (Primary server(s) that allow zone transfers to our egress IP, optionally with a TSIG key).

  2. 2

    Connect deSEC

    Connect deSEC (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 deSEC

    We snapshot the deSEC zone, write in batches, and leave Zone transfer untouched.

  5. 5

    Verify

    We query deSEC'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 transfer

  • Read-only source: zone transfer connections can be migrated from, monitored and backed up, but never written to.
  • We reach primaries only over TCP port 53 at public addresses; private, loopback, link-local and metadata addresses are refused.
  • A transfer shows what the server publishes: proxied (CDN) addresses, flattened apex CNAMEs and provider-managed records can't be recovered from it.
  • DNSSEC signatures and keys (RRSIG, NSEC/NSEC3, DNSKEY, CDS/CDNSKEY) are dropped; the destination signs the zone itself.
  • We can't receive NOTIFY messages, so changes are picked up by polling the SOA serial, then IXFR when the server supports it.

Access we need: Read-only: the primary must allow AXFR (and ideally IXFR) to our egress IP, optionally restricted to a TSIG key. Nothing is ever written back.

Good to know about deSEC

  • The minimum TTL is 3600 seconds for most domains (deSEC sets it per domain) and the maximum is 86400.
  • ALIAS/ANAME records and apex CNAMEs aren't supported; use A/AAAA or HTTPS records at the apex.
  • Every zone is DNSSEC-signed automatically. Give the DS records to your registrar to complete the chain.

Access we need: Any token can read all RRsets. Applying needs write permission on the RRsets (token policies can restrict it); creating zones needs perm_create_domain.

Questions

Will there be downtime moving from Zone transfer to deSEC?

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

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

Related migrations

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