Add zones for non-Alibaba-Cloud domain names, retrieve zones claimed by other accounts, reclaim DNS management for your registered domains, and delete zones.
Add Zone
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You do not need to add zones for domain names registered with Alibaba Cloud. After registration, configure DNS records directly in the Alibaba Cloud DNS console.
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To use Alibaba Cloud DNS for a non-Alibaba-Cloud domain name or subdomain, add a zone in the Alibaba Cloud DNS console.
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The following steps apply to primary domain names not registered with Alibaba Cloud. To add a subdomain zone, refer to Manage subdomains.
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Log on to the Alibaba Cloud DNS - Public Zone page and click Add Zone.
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In the dialog box, enter the primary domain name and select an instance to bind. If no paid instance is available, click Purchase a plan instance to open the purchase page. Purchase and bind a domain name.
NoteWe recommend a paid edition for production services. Paid editions provide 100% monthly availability SLA, faster queries, and enhanced security. Version comparison.
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After the zone is added, the domain name appears on the Public Zone page.
NoteIf the assigned DNS server status is abnormal after adding, troubleshoot with View DNS server status and handle exceptions.
Retrieve zone
If you try to Add Zone for a non-Alibaba-Cloud domain name but the system indicates it is already added by another account, and you are the domain name owner, use Retrieve Zone to claim the domain name to your account.
Retrieving a zone to a new account deletes its previous DNS records.
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On the Alibaba Cloud DNS - Public Zone page, click Add Zone.
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Enter the domain name. If a prompt indicates that the domain has been added by another account, click Retrieve Zone.
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In the identity verification dialog box, copy the Hostname and TXT record value. Do not close this dialog box.
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Go to the domain's current DNS provider and add a TXT record by using the information that you obtained. For the Hostname, enter
aliyunretrieval. -
After adding the TXT record with your current DNS provider, return to the identity verification dialog box in the Alibaba Cloud DNS console and click Confirm. The system scans for the TXT record. If found, you receive an email confirming the zone retrieval.
Reclaim domain name and DNS records
If a domain name registered with Alibaba Cloud has its DNS records managed by another account, use Add Zone to reclaim management rights. For example, if a domain is registered under Account A but managed by Account B, use Add Zone in Account A to reclaim the records from Account B.
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On the Alibaba Cloud DNS - Public Zone page, click Add Zone and enter the target domain name in the dialog box that appears.
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A prompt appears: The domain name has been transferred to another account. Do you want to retrieve the management rights to this account? To reclaim the domain and its DNS records, select Reclaim Domain Name and DNS Records. The system checks the bound DNS instance in Account B. If it is a paid edition, purchase the same edition in Account A and select Bind same edition instance to prevent service interruptions.
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If the domain is bound to a paid instance in Account B, purchase the same edition in Account A. Otherwise, the domain defaults to the free edition after reclamation, which may cause paid-edition-exclusive DNS records to stop resolving, resulting in service interruptions.
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If you do not bind a paid instance after reclamation, review the records in Account B first and disable Update Lock and DNSSEC.
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If the domain name uses a free edition of Alibaba Cloud DNS in Account B, you can directly reclaim the DNS records. The records are transferred seamlessly without affecting your services.
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After selecting the instance to bind, click OK to reclaim the DNS records to the current account.
Delete a zone
You can delete zones for non-Alibaba-Cloud domain names. Deleting a zone removes all its DNS records. You cannot delete zones for domain names that are registered with Alibaba Cloud.
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On the Alibaba Cloud DNS - Public Zone page, find the target domain name, click the More icon in the Actions column, and click Delete.
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In the confirmation dialog box that appears, confirm the deletion.
This action permanently deletes the zone and all its DNS records. Proceed with caution.
Inactive zone cleanup
Alibaba Cloud DNS automatically cleans up inactive DNS data from the Public Zone page.
Rules for identifying an inactive zone:
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A non-Alibaba-Cloud domain name on the free edition is inactive if its DNS servers at the registrar do not point to the Alibaba Cloud DNS assigned addresses.
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An independently hosted subdomain of a non-Alibaba-Cloud domain name is inactive if it uses the free edition and the required NS records on the primary domain's DNS server do not point to the Alibaba Cloud DNS assigned addresses.