Azure Name Server

Question

Currently my Name Server handled by Internet Provider and I have plan to migrate my NS to Azure.

Anyone know what best practice when we migrate the NS from one provider to other provider to prevent downtime because the propagation?

In my mind is i will create zone in the Azure DNS and entry all records (A, MX, CNAME) then after all record created i will contact my domain providerto set the NS2 and pointing to the Azure with keeping the 1st NS pointing to the original NS. Then after some days i will change the 1st NS also to the azure, so NS1 and NS2 will be pointing to the Azure. With this scenarion there will be downtime, or all users will be not reach query to my domain due to propagation?

Answer 1

Hi Handian Sudianto

We understood that you would like to Migrate your Name Servers (NS) from your Internet Service Provider (ISP) to Azure DNS.

Your idea of keeping NS1 on the old provider and NS2 on Azure can cause intermittent failures. DNS resolvers may randomly choose which NS to query, and if the records differ or are incomplete, users may get inconsistent results.

Best practice approach to help you transition smoothly:

1. Create the DNS Zone in Azure: Start by creating a DNS zone in the Azure portal and adding all necessary DNS records (A, MX, CNAME, etc.) exactly as they are configured with your current provider.
2. Set Up Name Server (NS) Records:

• Once your DNS zone is created and all records are added, Azure will assign you a set of NS records. You can find these in the Azure portal in your DNS zone's overview page.
• Contact your domain registrar and update the NS records, but do it in the following manner to minimize downtime:
• Change the NS2 (secondary) to point to your Azure DNS servers, while keeping NS1 (primary) pointing to your current provider.
• After updating the NS records, keep an eye on how long it takes for the changes to propagate. This process can take up to 48 hours, but in many cases, it happens sooner.

4.Update the Primary NS: After a few days (ensure that propagation is complete and that users are resolving correctly to your Azure DNS), update your primary NS to point to Azure as well. Now both NS1 and NS2 will be pointing to Azure.

5.Check DNS Resolution: During the transition, make sure to test the DNS resolution from various locations (using tools like dig or nslookup), and verify that everything is resolving properly.

By following this method, you shouldn’t experience any downtime, as both DNS providers will be serving requests until the transition completes.

---

I hope this information is helpful! If my answer helped you resolve your issue, please consider marking it as the correct answer or Upvote. This helps others in the community find solutions more easily. Thanks!