How to add domain names, delete domain names, retrieve domain names, retrieve DNS records, and manage domain name groups - Alibaba Cloud DNS

This topic describes how to add, delete, retrieve, and group domain names on the Authoritative Domain Names tab of the Alibaba Cloud DNS console.

I. Add a domain name

If your domain name or subdomain name is not registered with Alibaba Cloud, you must add the primary domain name or subdomain name in the Alibaba Cloud DNS console before you use Alibaba Cloud DNS.

Domain name that is registered with Alibaba Cloud

If your domain name is registered with Alibaba Cloud, you do not need to add the domain name in the Alibaba Cloud DNS console. After the domain name is registered, you can log on to the Alibaba Cloud DNS console and add Domain Name System (DNS) records for the domain name.

Log on to the Alibaba Cloud DNS console.
On the Authoritative Domain Names tab of the Domain Name Resolution page, click the domain name that you want to manage.
On the DNS Settings page, add, delete, and modify the DNS records of the domain name.

Domain name that is registered with a third-party DNS service provider

Log on to the Alibaba Cloud DNS console.
On the Authoritative Domain Names tab of the Authoritative DNS Resolution page, click Add Domain Name.
In the Add Domain Name dialog box, enter the primary domain name or subdomain name and click OK.
After the domain name is added, you can view the domain name on the Authoritative Domain Names tab.

Note

After you add a domain name, the DNS server may not in Normal state. For more information, see DNS server status.

2. Delete a domain name

In the Alibaba Cloud DNS console, you can delete only the domain names that are registered with third-party DNS service providers. After you delete the domain names, the DNS records of the domain names are also deleted.

Procedure

Log on to the Alibaba Cloud DNS console.
On the Authoritative Domain Names tab of the Authoritative DNS Resolution page, find the domain name that you want to delete, and choose More > Delete in the Actions column. In the message that appears, click OK.
Warning
After the domain name is deleted, the DNS records of the domain name are also deleted. Before you delete a domain name, make sure that this does not affect your business.

3. Retrieve a domain name

You can retrieve a domain name that is registered with a third-party DNS service provider in the following scenario: When you add the domain name in the Alibaba Cloud DNS console, the system prompts that the domain name is added within another account. If you are the owner of the domain name, you can retrieve the domain name to your current account.

Warning

When the domain name is retrieved to your current account, the existing DNS records of the domain name are deleted.

Log on to the Alibaba Cloud DNS console.
On the Authoritative Domain Names tab of the Authoritative DNS Resolution page, click Add Domain Name.
In the Add Domain Name dialog box, the system prompts that the domain name is added by another account. Click Retrieve Domain Name.
In the Verify Registrant Identity dialog box, copy the text (TXT) record value and hostname but do not close the dialog box.
Add a TXT record that contains the hostname and TXT record value at the DNS service provider of the domain name.
Return to the Verify Registrant Identity dialog box in the Alibaba Cloud DNS console and click OK. Alibaba Cloud DNS automatically detects the TXT record. If the TXT record is detected, Alibaba Cloud DNS sends an email to inform you that the domain name is retrieved and adds the domain name to your account that initiated the request for domain name retrieval.

4. Retrieve DNS records

You can retrieve the DNS records of domain names registered with Alibaba Cloud. If the DNS records added for a domain name are transferred to another Alibaba Cloud account, you can log on to the Alibaba Cloud DNS console by using the account to which the domain name belongs and click Add Domain Name. Then, retrieve the DNS records and the management permissions on the DNS records to the current account. For example, if a domain name is added within Account A and the DNS records added for the domain name are transferred to Account B. In this case, you can retrieve the DNS records from Account B to Account A after you click Add Domain Name.

Log on to the Alibaba Cloud DNS console.
On the Authoritative Domain Names tab of the Authoritative DNS Resolution page, click Add Domain Name. In the Add Domain Name dialog box, enter the desired domain name.
In this case, the following message appears: This domain has been transferred to another account. Reclaim Domain Name and DNS Records to Current Account. If you want to retrieve the management permissions on the DNS resolution for the domain name within the current account, select Reclaim Domain Name and DNS Records. The system determines the information about the Alibaba Cloud DNS instance bound to the domain name within Account B. If the domain name is bound to a paid Alibaba Cloud DNS instance within Account B, purchase an Alibaba Cloud DNS instance of the same edition within Account A. Then, select Bind Instance of Same Edition for Smooth Migration. The system automatically binds the domain name to the purchased instance to prevent service interruption.
Warning
1. In this case, if you do not purchase a paid Alibaba Cloud DNS instance within Account A, the domain name is bound to a free Alibaba Cloud DNS instance by default. This will lead to service interruption because the DNS records supported by the paid Alibaba Cloud DNS instance are suspended.
2. If you do not want to bind the domain name to a paid instance, you can check the DNS records within Account B before you retrieve the DNS records to Account A. In addition, you must disable Update Prohibition Lock and DNS Security Extensions (DNSSEC).
3. If the domain name within Account B is bound to a free Alibaba Cloud DNS instance, you can retrieve the DNS records without the need to purchase a paid Alibaba Cloud DNS instance. This does not affect the DNS records and DNS resolution.
Select the instance that you want to bind and click OK. The DNS records are retrieved to the current account.

5. Manage domain name groups

You can manage domain names in groups in the Alibaba Cloud DNS console. You can create and delete a group, edit the group name, and change the group to which a domain name belongs.

Create a group

Log on to the Alibaba Cloud DNS console.
On the Authoritative Domain Names tab of the Authoritative DNS Resolution page, click the All Domain Names drop-down list and click the plus (+) icon.
Enter a name for the group that you want to create and click the tick (√) icon. The group is created.

Modify a group name and delete a group

On the Authoritative Domain Names tab of the Domain Name Resolution page, click the All Domain Names drop-down list and click the Edit icon next to the group whose name you want to modify. Enter a new group name and click the tick (√) icon to save the modification.
Click the delete icon next to the group that you want to delete. If you delete the group, the domain names in the group are also removed. You can select All Domain Names from the drop-down list to manage all domain names.

Change the group to which a domain name belongs

You can add a domain name to a group or move a domain name from Group A to Group B.

On the Domain Name Resolution page, click the Authoritative Domain Names tab, select the domain name for which you want to change the group, and then click Change Group below the domain name.
Select the group to which you want to add the domain name and click OK.
Select the desired group from the drop-down list to check whether the domain name is moved to the group.

Grouping rules

You can view all groups after you select All Domain Names from the drop-down list. The number next to All Domain Names indicates the total number of domain names that are managed by Alibaba Cloud DNS. The name of the default group cannot be modified and the default group cannot be deleted.
One domain name can be managed only in one group.
If you delete a group, the domain names in the group are also removed. You can select All Domain Names from the drop-down list to manage all domain names.
You can create up to 100 groups for domain names within an Alibaba Cloud account.
A group name must be 1 to 20 characters in length.
The number of domain names that can be added to a group is unlimited.
You cannot query the logs of grouping operations.