Master DNS Zone

What is a Master (Primary DNS) Zone?

The Master DNS Zone (also known as a Primary DNS Zone) is a read-write copy of a DNS zone where records are stored and managed. It is the authoritative source for the domain’s DNS information and is responsible for providing responses to DNS queries. 

Why do you need it?

In the DNS zone is stored information such as IP addresses, mail server details, and other domain-related records. The Master DNS zone holds the original, editable copy of these records. Administrators can make direct changes and updates to the domain's configuration only within the Master DNS zone stored in the Authoritative DNS server. That way, it ensures consistency and accuracy across the DNS infrastructure. The Primary DNS zone is crucial for maintaining control over the domain's DNS information, ensuring accurate and up-to-date mappings between domain names and IP addresses. This centralization of control allows efficient management of DNS records and simplifies the propagation of changes throughout the DNS infrastructure.

How to add Master Zone in ClouDNS?

You can add your Master DNS Zone effortlessly by following several easy steps:

1. Login to your account.
2. Click on the "create zone" button in the DNS Hosting section.
3. Choose a type of zone (Master zone).
4. Enter the domain name (without www or http://) 
5. Click on the "CREATE" button. 

We recommend choosing the servers shown during the zone creation, these are the available name servers for your account. For valid DNS configuration, the name servers in the DNS zone should match the name servers at the Domain name registrar.

When you create a Master DNS zone at ClouDNS you can select from these 3 different options. 

• Create with NS records - this option is selected by default. It is the easiest way to create a Master DNS zone with all needed NS records.
• Copy all records from exisiting zone - this option is suitable, if you would like to copy all records from another DNS zone into your new one.
• Create empty without records - selecting this option will create a DNS zone without any NS records in it. You will have to manually add them afterward.

How to add Master DNS Zone in ClouDNS - Step by Step:

Best practices for managing a Master DNS Zone

Some best practices for managing a Master DNS Zone include:

• Regular Backups: Regularly back up your Master DNS zone files to prevent data loss in case of accidental deletion or corruption. This ensures that you can quickly restore the DNS zone in case of any issues.
• Secure Access: Restrict access to your DNS server and Master DNS zone files to authorized personnel only. Implement strong authentication mechanisms to prevent unauthorized changes.
• Monitoring and Alerts: Implement monitoring tools to track DNS server health and performance. Set up alerts for issues such as high traffic, DNS query failures, or unauthorized changes.
• DNSSEC: Implement DNSSEC to add an additional layer of security to your DNS infrastructure. By digitally signing DNS records, it helps prevent DNS spoofing and cache poisoning attacks.
• Regular Updates: Stay informed with the latest software patches and security updates for your DNS server software to protect against known vulnerabilities.
• Documentation: Maintaining accurate documentation of DNS configurations and changes.

FAQ

Question: What is the difference between a Master DNS zone and a Slave DNS zone?

Answer: A Master DNS zone is the primary authoritative source for a domain's resource records and holds the most up-to-date information. The Slave DNS zone acts as an authoritative secondary source, with copies of the Master DNS zone stored on it. The Slave DNS zone will be periodically updated with any changes made to the Master DNS zone automatically, it cannot be manually edited. 

Question: What records are stored in a Master DNS zone?

Answer: A Master DNS zone stores a range of records, including SOA (Start of Authority), A (Address), AAAA (Quad A), PTR (Pointer), CNAME (Canonical name), MX (Mail Exchange), NS (Name server) records, and more.

Question: How often should a Master DNS zone be updated?

Answer: It is recommended to regularly update the Master DNS zone, depending on the type of website. For a static site, this may be once a month, while for dynamic sites or other services, an update should occur at least weekly to ensure changes are properly distributed.

Question: What happens if the Master DNS zone is not updated regularly?

Answer: If the Master DNS zone is not updated regularly, then the DNS server cannot provide accurate data to users. This can result in users needing help accessing websites, incorrect information being delivered, or even the inability to send emails. Therefore, it is essential to keep the Master DNS zone up to date to ensure reliable service. 

Question: Who manages a Master DNS Zone?

Answer: The administrator of the domain is the one who manages the Master DNS Zone. They have control over adding, modifying, and deleting DNS records within the zone.