If you want to use custom Domain Name System (DNS) servers to resolve your domain name, you must first create your own DNS servers. This topic provides answers to frequently asked questions about custom DNS servers.
What is a custom DNS server?
A custom DNS server is a self-managed DNS server and provides the DNS resolution service. Professional technical skills are required to create custom DNS servers. If you do not have such skills, we recommend that you use the DNS service provided by your DNS service provider.
What is an Alibaba Cloud DNS Host?
A DNS Host is a glue record that provides the IP address of a name server when a DNS server resolves a name server (NS) record. The IP address is specified in an A or AAAA record. This prevents infinite recursive queries that can occur when resolving the name server's domain name.
How are glue records represented on Alibaba Cloud?
On Alibaba Cloud, glue records are called DNS Hosts. The two terms refer to the same record type. The following example shows the format:
@ IN NS dns1.example.com.
@ IN NS dns2.example.com.
dns1.example.com. IN A 192.168.1.1
dns2.example.com. IN A 192.168.2.1How to specify the server name?
Enter the name of the custom DNS server, such as dns1.example.com or dns2.example.com.
If .cn domain names are used as DNS server names, fourth-level domain names are not supported.
How many DNS servers can I create?
You can create up to 13 DNS servers. The exact number depends on the rules of the domain name registry.
Do custom DNS servers support IPv6 addresses?
Yes, custom DNS servers support IPv6 addresses.
How many IP addresses are supported?
You can configure 1 to 13 IP addresses for a DNS server. The actual number of IP addresses that you can configure for a DNS server is determined by the domain name registry.
A .cn domain name supports up to six custom DNS servers.
Can I change or delete a server name?
Yes, you can change or delete a server name. However, you must change or delete the server name on the backend server and update the related services. For example, if you change or delete a server name, you must update DNS records and restart related services to ensure that all related services and configurations are updated. You also need to make a backup plan for the modification to prevent service interruptions.
Can IP addresses be modified or deleted?
Yes, you can change or delete the IP addresses of a DNS server. However, at least one IP address must be retained.
Does a custom DNS server take effect immediately after it is created?
The server is available a few minutes after it is created.
Can I delete a custom DNS server after it is created?
Yes, you can delete a custom DNS server after it is created. If you fail to delete a custom DNS server, contact technical support on the Smart Online page.