DNS Transfer

[AndrewFram]

We currently host our own DNS servers, but want to outsource it back to the registrar who says there will be 24-36 hours of downtime for email and web during the transfer.

The last time I did this with a different domain with the same registrar, as soon as I clicked the "transfer now" button, our website became a "page under construction" for about 10 hours.

Why did our old DNS servers seem to stop working the second I clicked the transfer button? Shouldn't they have continued to handle DNS requests until the registrar's servers took over?

Is there really no way to avoid that kind of downtime?

Thanks

 

[elgrandeperro]

First, that is pretty unacceptible. They should have your "stale" records preconfigured, then it should be if either your old server or their new servers should be able to give out answers.

Do you get DNS service from them as well? The root zones are only uploaded at certain times, so the forward zone takes a day or so. Unless you get DNS from them, and they immediately became authoritative, because they think they are in charge.

So ideally, they have your records preconfigured, except they declare their NS servers. You count down to changeover time, scrolling down your TTL to a few minutes. That way stuff isn't cached for too long. Then you switch over.
(Caveat here, some ISPs ignore the TTL setting and cache for a day anyway). So keep your server up until you aren't getting any requests.

Of course if they can't preconfigure your DNS, it won't work.

 

[AndrewFram]

Unfortunately, it can't be preconfigured.

The transfer is made through the control panel when you log in to their website. There is no ability to add/change records until after the transfer has been made.

 

[wchull]

Who is your registrar? We use CSC Corporate Domains and althogh we maintain our own DNS servers I periodically offload unused domains to them all the time. With CSC I use there web site to do this also but the "public" does not see the effect until the registrar informs the top level domains that they need to refer to their DNS instead of yours. I would suggest that you contact your registrar's technical support area and explain what you want to do and how to do it. If they say "no way" then I would suggest looking for a new regisrar. Transfering everything from registrar to registrar can be a time consuming process but as they say, no pain, no gain.

 

[AndrewFram]

We're currently with Network Solutions. After several calls with different tech support agents, they all confirmed that the top level domains are immediately updated, and our website becomes a "network solutions under construction" page. They won't make special arrangements.