How to Migrate DNS from GoDaddy to Azure DNS

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If your IT company manages over 100 clients, each with their own web app and SQL database hosted on Azure, and all of these are connected through custom domains or subdomains registered with GoDaddy, then moving your DNS records to Azure can help streamline your management. However, you may worry about potential downtime or technical glitches during the switch.

Here’s how you can safely migrate your DNS records from GoDaddy to Azure DNS:

First, you need to export all your existing DNS records from GoDaddy. You can do this by logging into your GoDaddy account, navigating to the DNS management page for your domain, and copying all your current DNS records. It’s important to have a complete list, including A records, CNAMEs, MX records, and any others you use.

Next, import all these records into Azure DNS. You can do this using an ARM (Azure Resource Manager) template, or manually through the Azure portal. If you choose the template method, you’ll prepare a JSON file with all your DNS record details and deploy it to create the same DNS setup in Azure.

Finally, once everything is set in Azure, you’ll need to update your domain’s name servers at GoDaddy. Replace the existing GoDaddy nameservers with the Azure DNS nameservers provided in your Azure DNS zone settings. This change tells the internet to look at Azure for your DNS information instead of GoDaddy.

Now, to answer your main questions:

The good news is that DNS changes typically don’t cause complete outages if done carefully. When you update your nameservers, the changes can take anywhere from a few minutes to 48 hours to fully propagate worldwide. During this period, some users might see the old or new setup, but overall, the transition tends to be smooth.

However, there is still a small risk of temporary downtime or lookups failure, especially if DNS records aren’t migrated exactly or if propagation takes longer than expected. To minimize this risk, you should:

– Have all DNS records accurately exported and imported, double-checking for any missing or incorrect entries.
– Keep the old DNS records active until the new DNS has fully propagated. You might consider lowering your TTL (Time To Live) settings beforehand, which reduces the delay for changes.
– Make the switch during a low-traffic time or outside of peak working hours, especially since your customers are spread across different time zones.
– Have a rollback plan ready. If something doesn’t go as expected, you can quickly revert to the old DNS by switching back to the original GoDaddy nameservers.

In summary, careful planning, thorough record management, and choosing a good time to make the switch can help you migrate your DNS records to Azure with minimal disruption. If issues do occur, quick action to revert or troubleshoot will help restore normal service swiftly.