> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://developers.aptranet.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Migrate DNS without downtime

> Plan, import, verify, delegate, and monitor a production DNS migration to Aptranet.

## Migration runbook

<Steps>
  <Step title="Inventory the source zone">
    Export the zone when possible and capture dynamic or provider-managed records separately. Record DNSSEC, ALIAS/flattening, traffic policies, and health checks that may not transfer as plain records.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Reduce application TTLs">
    Several TTL periods before the cutover, lower records that may need rollback. Do not reduce them so far that query load becomes unacceptable.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create and populate the Aptranet zone">
    Recreate record sets and convert provider-specific routing into Aptranet picker and metadata structures.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Validate directly">
    Query every important name and type against both Aptranet nameservers. Check negative answers and wildcard behavior as well as successful records.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Handle DNSSEC deliberately">
    Coordinate DS records with the signing state of the new provider. A mismatched DS record can make the entire zone appear unavailable to validating resolvers.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Change parent delegation">
    Update registrar nameservers and monitor public resolvers, application health, mail, certificate issuance, and query analytics.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Retire the old provider">
    Keep the old zone consistent until its delegation is no longer observed. Raise lowered TTLs after the system is stable.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Rollback

Retain registrar access, the old zone, and its provider account. If you must restore the old nameservers, remember that parent and resolver caches can create another mixed-authority period.


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