Best way to change Nameservers DNS records

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Posted by pedrojose, 05-23-2010, 09:21 PM
Hello, I have 1 server running my own customized nameservers (ns1/ns2) where i host 20 clients websites. And now i need to change/update this vps nameservers for a new ones. The ips will remain the same. Just the domain will change, as follows: Present nameservers: ns1.example1.com - ip: 10.10.10.100 ns1.example1.com - ip: 10.10.10.101 New nameservers: ns1.example2.com - ip: 10.10.10.100 ns1.example2.com - ip: 10.10.10.101 So regarding making things change i have some questions: 1- I dont have access to my clients Registrar accounts, so i will have to contact all my clients if order to inform they that they have to update their Registrar nameservers, correct? 2- All my clients must change their Registrar nameservers to the "new" ones at the exact same time that i change the nameservers in the server, correct? Or there is a way for my clients have a time frame of a few days in order to make the change (in this timeframe server will have setup both nameservers)? It would be great if if my clients could use both nameservers (the present and the new) for a few days, in order that all clients have time to change.. because working a way for all they to change their nameservers at their Registrar at the exact same time will be hard. So i also appreciate if anyone can share your experience and advices on how to update a server nameservers records causing a minimun impact to clients. Fell free to give your advice on what you think is the best way to update a server nameservers. Thanks
Posted by madaboutlinux, 05-23-2010, 09:59 PM
There is no need to change the name servers at the registrar end at the exact time you change them on the server. Just follow the below steps: 1) Register the new name servers with the same IP and do not delete the old name servers in the domain registrar panel. 2) Add A entries for the new name servers on your server. 3) Allow 24 hours for the new name servers to propagate, so whenever your client change them in their registrar panel, they will start working immediately. 4) Contact your clients and ask them to change the name servers to the new ones in their domain registrar panel. They can replace the old ones now. 5) After a week or so, change the name servers in the DNS zone of all the domains on your server using the replace command.
Posted by pedrojose, 05-23-2010, 10:53 PM
to madaboutlinux: thanks for the advice! So does anyone else has another advice? Or do you also think that the idea gived my madaboutlinux is the best solution? Thanks
Posted by foobic, 05-23-2010, 11:20 PM
I'd agree with madaboutlinux's instructions - good summary. To answer your questions: Correct.You can leave both sets of nameservers pointing to the same IP addresses for as long as you like. While you're in that state, having the client domains pointing to the wrong nameservers, either at their registrar or in the zone files, shouldn't make any difference. So start by setting up the example2 nameservers in addition to example1, and before you remove the example1 nameservers make sure that all domains have been correctly moved over to example2 - including the zone file edits (step 5). That's something that people often miss and it'll cause occasional lookup failures until you get it right.
Posted by madaboutlinux, 05-23-2010, 11:43 PM
No problems. Thank you

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