DNS Management
Learn how to effectively manage DNS configuration, monitor health, and implement security best practices for your domains.
Prerequisites
- Understanding of DNS concepts
- Access to domain registrar
- Basic networking knowledge
- Familiarity with DNS records
DNS Management Overview

Visual representation of DNS management workflow and components.
1
DNS Configuration
Set up DNS records for your domain:
# A Records - Map domain to IP address
@ IN A 76.76.21.21
# CNAME Records - Map subdomain to another domain
www IN CNAME your-app.symbiosis.host
api IN CNAME api.your-app.symbiosis.host
# MX Records - Mail server configuration
@ IN MX 10 mail.your-app.symbiosis.host
# TXT Records - Domain verification and SPF
@ IN TXT "v=spf1 include:_spf.your-app.symbiosis.host ~all"
_symbiosis IN TXT "verify=abc123def456"
2
DNS Propagation
Monitor and verify DNS propagation:
// DNS propagation check
const checkPropagation = async (domain, recordType) => {
const servers = [
'8.8.8.8', // Google
'1.1.1.1', // Cloudflare
'208.67.222.222' // OpenDNS
];
const results = await Promise.all(
servers.map(async (server) => {
const result = await dns.resolve(domain, recordType);
return {
server,
records: result
};
})
);
return results;
};
// Check propagation status
const status = await checkPropagation('example.com', 'A');
console.log('Propagation Status:', status);
3
DNS Health Monitoring
Implement DNS health checks:
// DNS health monitoring
const dnsHealth = {
async check(domain) {
return {
resolution: await this.checkResolution(domain),
records: await this.validateRecords(domain),
performance: await this.checkPerformance(domain)
};
},
async checkResolution(domain) {
try {
const start = Date.now();
await dns.resolve(domain);
const duration = Date.now() - start;
return {
status: 'healthy',
responseTime: duration
};
} catch (error) {
return {
status: 'error',
error: error.message
};
}
},
async validateRecords(domain) {
const recordTypes = ['A', 'AAAA', 'CNAME', 'MX', 'TXT'];
const results = {};
for (const type of recordTypes) {
try {
results[type] = await dns.resolve(domain, type);
} catch (error) {
results[type] = { error: error.message };
}
}
return results;
}
};
4
DNS Security
Configure DNS security measures:
// DNSSEC configuration
const dnssec = {
// Zone signing configuration
zoneConfig: {
algorithm: 'RSASHA256',
keyLength: 2048,
validity: {
zsk: '3 months',
ksk: '1 year'
}
},
// Generate DNSSEC keys
async generateKeys() {
const keys = {
zsk: await this.generateZSK(),
ksk: await this.generateKSK()
};
await this.storeKeys(keys);
return keys;
},
// Sign zone with DNSSEC
async signZone(zone, keys) {
const signedZone = await this.createSignatures(zone, keys);
await this.publishSignedZone(signedZone);
return {
signedZone,
ds: await this.generateDSRecord(keys.ksk)
};
}
};
// CAA Records
const caaRecords = [
'@ IN CAA 0 issue "letsencrypt.org"',
'@ IN CAA 0 issuewild ";"',
'@ IN CAA 0 iodef "mailto:[email protected]"'
].join('\n');
Best Practices
DNS Configuration
Best practices for DNS setup:
- Use multiple nameservers
- Implement DNSSEC
- Regular record audits
- Monitor TTL values
Security
Secure your DNS infrastructure:
- Enable DNSSEC
- Use CAA records
- Monitor for hijacking
- Regular backups
Performance
Optimize DNS performance:
- Optimize TTL values
- Use anycast DNS
- Monitor resolution time
- Load balancing
Common Issues
DNS Resolution
Common resolution problems:
- Propagation delays
- Incorrect records
- Nameserver issues
- TTL configuration
Security Issues
Security-related challenges:
- DNS hijacking
- Cache poisoning
- DNSSEC errors
- Zone transfer