Alibaba Cloud DNS:Rules on instance expiration

Term

Description

Instance ID

The unique product ID that is automatically generated after you purchase a paid instance of Alibaba Cloud DNS. You can view valid instance IDs on the Editions tab in the Alibaba Cloud DNS console.

Release an instance

The action that the system takes to delete an instance in the Alibaba Cloud DNS console. After the instance is deleted, the paid Domain Name System (DNS) cluster associated with the instance becomes invalid.

Bind a domain name

The action of binding a domain name to the paid instance of Alibaba Cloud DNS you purchased. After the domain name is bound to the instance, you need to change the registered DNS server name at the domain name registrar to the paid DNS server name allocated by Alibaba Cloud DNS. Then, you can use the paid resolution services of Alibaba Cloud DNS.

Unbind a domain name

The action of unbinding a domain name from an Alibaba Cloud DNS instance. After the domain name is unbound from the instance, you can bind the domain name to another Alibaba Cloud DNS instance.

Free DNS cluster

A cluster of DNS servers that provide authoritative DNS services for users of the free edition of Alibaba Cloud DNS. These DNS servers are named dns(n).hichina.com (n can be an integer ranging from 1 to 32) and ns(n).alidns.com (n can be an integer ranging from 1 to 8). These DNS servers provide the same services.

Paid DNS cluster

A cluster of DNS servers that provide authoritative DNS services for users of the paid editions of Alibaba Cloud DNS. These DNS servers are named vip(n).alidns.com (n can be an integer ranging from 1 to 8).

DNS record

The domain name resolution record that you add in the Alibaba Cloud DNS console.

Update prohibition lock

A lock feature provided by domain name registrars. When enabled, this lock protects the registration information and DNS server name of a domain name from being changed.

DNS cluster degradation

The action that the system automatically takes to attempt to change the name of the registered DNS server to degrade a DNS cluster from the paid edition to the free edition. Such degradation occurs seven days after the related Alibaba Cloud DNS instance expires or after you unbind a domain name from the related Alibaba Cloud DNS instance.

Status

Impact

Suggestion

Within seven days (the seventh day excluded) after the Alibaba Cloud DNS instance expires

The paid DNS cluster continues providing domain name resolution services without interruption.

Renew the Alibaba Cloud DNS instance.

On or after the seventh day after the Alibaba Cloud DNS instance expires

• The DNS instance is released. DNS records on the paid DNS cluster cannot be used.

• For a domain name that is registered with Alibaba Cloud, the system attempts to degrade the paid DNS cluster to a free DNS cluster.

The instance is released on the seventh day after expiration. You cannot continue using the same instance by renewing the instance. To resume the domain name resolution services, perform the following steps:

1. Purchase a new Alibaba Cloud DNS instance.

2. Bind your domain name to the new instance.

   Note

   • For a domain name that is registered with Alibaba Cloud, the system attempts to automatically upgrade the DNS cluster from the free edition to the paid edition. If the update prohibition lock is enabled or the automatic upgrade fails due to a network error, you must manually change the name of the registered DNS server to complete the upgrade.

   • For a domain name that is registered with a third-party domain name registrar, you must manually change the name of the registered DNS server at the domain name registrar to complete the upgrade.

3. If DNS records are no longer stored due to instance release, re-enable the feature of storing DNS records. Otherwise, skip this step.

Feature

Check item

Operation

DNS Security Extensions (DNSSEC)

Whether DNSSEC is enabled

No further operation is required if the DNSSEC feature is disabled. If the DNSSEC feature is enabled, remove the related delegation signer (DS) record at your domain name registrar and then disable DNSSEC in the Alibaba Cloud DNS console.

Time to live (TTL)

Whether the minimum TTL value is less than 600 seconds

No further operation is required if the minimum TTL value is greater than or equal to 600 seconds. If the minimum TTL value is less than 600 seconds, change the minimum TTL value to 600 seconds.

Host record

Whether the number of subdomain levels specified by the host record is greater than 10

No further operation is required if the number of subdomain levels specified by the host record is less than or equal to 10. If the number of subdomain levels specified by the host record is greater than 10, change the subdomain levels to 10 or less by modifying DNS records.

Resolution line (DNS request source)

Whether the resolution lines in use are beyond the specification of the Alibaba Cloud DNS free edition

Resolution lines supported by the Alibaba Cloud DNS free edition include the default line, lines deployed outside the Chinese mainland, and lines provided by China Unicom, China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Education and Research Network (CERNET). Make sure that you use one of the preceding lines or the default line.

Weight settings

Whether the number of IP addresses configured for a single resolution line of a domain name is greater than 10

No further operation is required if the number of IP addresses configured for a single resolution line of a domain name is less than or equal to 10. Note that excessive IP addresses will become invalid after the DNS cluster is degraded to the free edition. We recommend that you delete or suspend excessive IP addresses.

URL forwarding

Whether the number of URLs configured for URL forwarding is greater than 2

No further operation is required if the number of URLs configured for URL forwarding is equal to or less than 2. Note that excessive URLs will become invalid after the DNS cluster is degraded to the free edition

Secondary DNS

Whether secondary DNS is enabled

No further operation is required if secondary DNS is disabled. Note that secondary DNS will become invalid after the DNS cluster is degraded to the free edition.

DNS record backup

Whether the feature of DNS record backup is enabled

No further operation is required if the feature of DNS record backup is disabled. Note that the feature of DNS record backup will become invalid after the DNS cluster is degraded to the free edition.

Update prohibition lock

Whether the update prohibition lock is enabled

No further operation is required if the update prohibition lock is disabled. If the update prohibition lock is enabled, disable it at the domain name registrar. For more information, see Enable the update prohibition lock.

DNS server status

Whether the DNS server status is normal in the Alibaba Cloud DNS console

No further operation is required if the DNS server status is normal. If the DNS server status is abnormal, change the name of the registered DNS server at the domain name registrar. For more information, see Change the DNS server.