This topic describes how to add, retrieve, and delete domain names in the Alibaba Cloud DNS console.
Add Zone
You do not need to add domain names that are registered with Alibaba Cloud. After you register a domain name, you can configure its DNS records directly in the Alibaba Cloud DNS console.
To use Alibaba Cloud DNS for an external domain name or a subdomain, you must add the primary domain name or subdomain to the Alibaba Cloud DNS console.
This section describes how to add an external primary domain name in the Alibaba Cloud DNS console. For more information about how to add a subdomain, see Subdomain management.
Log on to the Alibaba Cloud DNS - Authoritative Zone page. Click the Add Zone button.
In the dialog box, enter the primary domain name and select an instance to attach. If no paid instances are available, click the Purchase a plan instance button to open the purchase page. For more information, see Purchase and attach a domain name.
NoteFor a comparison of different instance editions, see Edition comparison. Paid editions provide a 100% monthly availability Service-Level Agreement (SLA), higher query speeds, and enhanced security. We recommend that you use a paid edition for production services.
After the domain name is added, it appears on the Public Zone page.
NoteIf the DNS server status is not Normal after you add the domain name, see View and handle DNS server status for troubleshooting information.
Retrieve a domain name
The Domain Retrieval feature applies to domain names that are not registered with Alibaba Cloud. When you attempt to Add Zone in the Alibaba Cloud DNS console, you may receive a prompt that the domain name has already been added by another account. If you are the registrant, you can use the Domain Retrieval feature to retrieve this domain name to your current account.
When you retrieve a domain name to a new account, its previous DNS records are deleted.
On the Alibaba Cloud DNS - Authoritative Zone page, click the Add Zone button.
After you enter the domain name, a message appears indicating that the domain name has been added by another account. Click Retrieve Zone Name.
When prompted for registrant identity verification, copy the Hostname and TXT Record Value. Do not close this dialog box.
Go to the console of your domain name's current DNS service provider. Add a TXT record that contains the information you copied.
After you add the TXT record with your current DNS provider, return to the identity verification dialog box in the Alibaba Cloud DNS console and submit the verification. Alibaba Cloud DNS automatically scans for the TXT record. If the scan confirms that the TXT record is correct, you will receive an email notifying you that the domain name was successfully retrieved. The domain name is then added to the account that initiated the request.
Retrieve a domain name and its DNS records
For a domain name registered with Alibaba Cloud, if its DNS records are transferred to another Alibaba Cloud account, you can retrieve the DNS records and their management rights to the current account using the Add Zone feature in the account that owns the domain name. For example, if a domain name is in Account A and its DNS records are transferred to Account B, you can use the Add Zone feature in Account A to retrieve the DNS records from Account B.
On the Alibaba Cloud DNS - Authoritative Zone page, click Add Zone, and enter the target domain name in the dialog box that appears.
A message appears in the dialog box: The domain name has been transferred to another account. Do you want to retrieve the management rights to this account? To retrieve the domain name and its DNS records, select Reclaim Domain Name and DNS Records. The system then checks the DNS instance attached to the domain name in Account B. If the instance is a paid edition, you must first purchase an instance of the same edition in Account A. Then, select Attach an instance of the same edition to automatically attach the new instance and prevent service interruptions.
WarningIf the domain name is attached to a paid instance in Account B, you must purchase an instance of the same edition in Account A. Otherwise, the domain name is attached to a Free Edition instance by default when its DNS records are retrieved. This may pause DNS records that are supported by the paid instance and cause service interruptions.
If you do not want to attach a paid instance after you retrieve the DNS records, check the DNS records in Account B before you proceed. Also, disable the update lock and DNSSEC features.
If the domain name in Account B uses a Free Edition DNS instance, you can directly retrieve the DNS records. The records are not affected and can be smoothly transferred.
Select the instance to attach and click OK to retrieve the DNS records to the current account.
Delete a domain name
In the Alibaba Cloud DNS console, you can delete external domain names. When you delete a domain name, its DNS records are also deleted. You cannot delete domain names that are registered with Alibaba Cloud from the Alibaba Cloud DNS console.
On the Alibaba Cloud DNS - Authoritative Zone page, find the target domain name. In the Actions column, click the More button, and then click Delete.
The domain name is deleted after you confirm the action in the confirmation dialog box.
This operation deletes the domain name and all its DNS records. This action cannot be undone.
Inactive domain name cleanup mechanism
Alibaba Cloud DNS - Authoritative Zone has an inactive domain name cleanup mechanism. DNS data for inactive domain names is deleted after 30 days. This mechanism applies only to external domain names. Domain names registered with Alibaba Cloud and their independently hosted subdomains are never considered inactive and are not subject to this cleanup mechanism, regardless of whether they use the Free Edition of DNS.
Rules for determining inactive domain names:
The domain name is an external domain name that uses the Free Edition of DNS, and its NS records at the domain name registrar have not been changed to the DNS server addresses assigned by Alibaba Cloud DNS.
The domain name is an independently hosted subdomain of an external domain name that uses the Free Edition of DNS, and its NS records are not configured in the primary domain's DNS settings to point to the DNS server addresses assigned by Alibaba Cloud DNS.