The Secondary (Backup) DNS zone is the read-only copy of the DNS records. This means that the DNS records cannot be added directly to the Secondary DNS zone. The Secondary (Backup) DNS zone can receive the updated records only from the Master zone of the DNS server. The records in the Backup DNS zone can be managed only at your master server. Secondary DNS is available in all of our paid plans.
The DNS operates in a hierarchical manner, with multiple DNS servers responsible for resolving domain names. When a user attempts to access a website, their device queries the DNS server for the corresponding IP address. In a standard DNS setup, the user's DNS resolver typically contacts the primary DNS server associated with the domain.
In the event of a failure or unavailability of the primary DNS server, the Secondary DNS Zone comes into play. When properly configured, the Backup DNS Zone allows the secondary DNS server to step in and serve DNS records for the domain. This ensures that even if the primary DNS server is unreachable, users can still access the website or service by resolving domain names through the backup server.
Creating your Secondary (Backup) DNS zone is an easy process. Follow the steps below:
Dynamic DNS is a method to automatically update DNS records in real-time when the IP address of a host changes. While DDNS is typically associated with home networks and dynamic IP addresses, it can also play a role in backup DNS zones. Why? Because when the IP address of the primary DNS server changes, DDNS can be used to update the secondary DNS servers' records automatically. This dynamic synchronization ensures that the backup DNS zone always has the latest IP address information, minimizing downtime due to IP address changes.
Using a Secondary (Backup) DNS zone is crucial for ensuring the continuous access to your domain by providing redundancy in the event of primary DNS server failures caused by hardware issues, DDoS attacks, or network outages. It ensures high availability by automatically redirecting DNS queries to a secondary server and improves performance through load balancing. In addition, implementing a Secondary DNS can strengthen security by offering an alternative resolution path during cyber attacks, thereby maintaining continuous and secure access to your website or services.
Question: Why do I need a Secondary DNS Zone if my primary DNS server is reliable?
Answer: While your primary DNS server may be reliable, unforeseen events like hardware failures, DDoS attacks, or network outages can lead to its temporary unavailability. A Secondary (Backup) DNS Zone acts as an insurance policy, ensuring continuous DNS resolution even if the primary server experiences downtime.
Question: What is the best TTL value for DNS records in a Secondary DNS Zone?
Answer: The TTL (Time-to-Live) value determines the duration for which DNS information is cached by resolvers. A balance must be struck between lower TTL values for quicker propagation during failover and higher TTL values to reduce query traffic. Common TTL values range from a few minutes to several hours.
Question: Can I manually update the Secondary (Backup) DNS Zone when changes occur on the primary DNS server?
Answer: While manual updates are possible, they are not recommended due to the risk of discrepancies between the primary and backup zones. Automating DNS record synchronization is a more reliable approach to ensure consistency.
Question: What happens if the Secondary DNS Zone itself becomes unavailable?
Answer: To address this, consider setting up multiple secondary DNS servers, strategically located in different geographic regions. This approach ensures further redundancy and minimizes the risk of the Secondary DNS Zone becoming unavailable.