.. meta::
   :description: Viewing and clearing DNS caches in Micetro
   :keywords: DNS, DNS servers, Cache Management, Clear Cache

.. _admin-cache-management:

Managing the DNS cache
======================

From the **Admin** page, you can view a DNS server's cache and, if necessary, clear it. You may need to clear a server's cache in the following cases:

* **Domain IP address changes** — When the domain IP address changes, the DNS server may still have the old IP cached. Clearing the cache ensures that all queries are resolved with the updated IP address.
* **Security concerns** — If DNS cache poisoning or other malicious activities are suspected, clearing the cache helps remove potentially harmful entries.
* **Troubleshooting** — If stale or incorrect DNS entries are causing connectivity issues, clearing the cache helps to verify if this is the cause of the problem.
* **Load balancing** — If DNS-based load balancing is being used, clearing the cache ensures the DNS server provides updated IP addresses for balanced traffic distribution.
* **Service migrations** — Clearing the cache ensures that clients are directed to the correct new locations when migrating services to new servers.
* **Configuration updates** — Clearing the cache after updating DNS server configurations or policies ensures that all queries reflect the latest settings.

.. note::
    Options to clear a server cache are available for MS and BIND DNS servers.


Viewing the cache
-----------------

You can view the cache of a selected DNS server to review its entries and determine whether or not it needs to be cleared.

**To view a DNS server cache:**

1. On the :guilabel:`Service Management` tab of the **Admin** page, select the desired server from the list.

2. Hover your cursor over the entry and select the Row :guilabel:`...` menu to select :guilabel:`Manage cache`.

3. In the dialog, enter a cache entry name in the search bar and select :guilabel:`Search`.

   .. image:: ../../images/admin-cache-management.png
      :width: 80%

The entries in the DNS server's cache will be displayed in the dialog.

.. image:: ../../images/cache-flush-list.png
   :width: 80%

When multiple records share the same name, an ellipsis (...) is displayed. To see the other records, hover your cursor over the entry and the records will be displayed in a tooltip. You can also move the column manually to view the other records on the list.

.. image:: ../../images/cache-management-column.png
   :width: 80%
   
.. _clearing-cache

Clearing the cache
------------------

You can choose to clear individual cash entries, an entire domain, or clear the entire cache for a DNS server.

**To clear a DNS cache:**

1. On the :guilabel:`Service Management` tab of the **Admin** page, select the desired server.

2. Hover your cursor over the entry and use the Row :guilabel:`...` menu to select :guilabel:`Manage cache`.

3. To clear the entire server cache, select :guilabel:`Flush entire cache`.

   OR 

   Select one or more entries to clear from the server cache and select :guilabel:`Flush selected`.