DNS management

DNS Zones

Here is an overview of the main functionality for managing DNS zones.

By default, the list shows only master DNS zones, but to see other types of DNS zones, the filtering sidebar offers options to select different types.

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Viewing the DNS zone list

After entering the DNS section of the Web Application, users are presented with a list of all DNS zones in the system that they have access to view.

Opening a DNS zone

Opening a DNS zone can either by done by

  • selecting the zone in the zone list and clicking on the Open button in the task bar above the zone list; or

  • double clicking on the zone.

Creating a DNS zone

Creating a new DNS zone can be done by clicking on the Create button above the DNS zone list.

The following dialog presents the options for the operation:

../../../_images/blackstar-create-dns-zone.png

Item

Description

Zone name

The name of the DNS zone to be created as a fully qualified domain name (FQDN)

Zone type

Can either one of the following: Master, Slave, Stub, Forward

Master server

Specifies the server which will act as the master server for the DNS zone

Slave servers

Specify which server(s) should act as slave servers for the DNS zone

Open zone after creating

If checked, the DNS zone will be opened right after it has been created

Save comment

Allows users to write a comments to save for audit trail purposes.

Editing zone Properties

Any custom properties that have been defined for DNS zones can be added and edited here.

Deleting a zone

Select the zone to be deleted and click on the Delete zone action in the action part of the Inspector on the right hand side.

Migrating a DNS zone

A DNS zone can be migrated between DNS servers.

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  1. Select the DNS zone in the list and run the Migrate zone action.

  2. Specify the destination server. This is the server for which the DNS zone will be migrated to.

  3. After migrating, you are presented with a dialog which confirms a successful zone migration.

DNS Records

After having opened a DNS zone, it is possible to:

  • Add DNS records

  • Edit DNS records

  • Delete DNS records

  • Disable DNS records

The Inspector for DNS records allows the following actions and details for each selected DNS record in the DNS zone list.

Item

Description

Actions

Lists all available actions for the selected record

Properties

Lists the properties for the selected DNS record

Related DNS Data

Lists all related DNS records for the selected DNS record. Related DNS records all DNS records that are somehow associated with the specified record.

Related IP address

List the related IP address in case of an A or AAAA DNS record.

Creating a new DNS record

To create a new DNS record, either click on the Create button in the main task bar or click on the Create new DNS record in the actions section of the Inspector.

The following dialog presents the options for the operation:

../../../_images/blackstar-create-dns-record.png

Available record types are:

  • A / AAAA

  • MX

  • TXT

  • NS

  • SOA

  • SRV

  • HINFO

  • CNAME

  • TLSA

  • CAA

  • CERT

  • WKS

  • RP

  • AFSDB

  • LOC

  • SSHFP

  • SPF

  • DNSKEY (read only)

  • NSEC (read only)

  • NSEC3 (read only)

  • NSEC3PARAM (read only)

  • RRSIG (read only)

  • DS

  • DLV (read only)

New DNS records can be added by filling out the required data and additionally custom fields if there are any.

For A records, there is useful autocomplete behavior that can help finding a free IP address in a network.

Typing in the first digits of a network will allow you to see a list of networks to choose from.

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Selecting the first item from the list will fill in the Address field with the next free IP address from that network. Additionally, insights for the specified IP address will be shown.

After typing in an IP address or selecting from the list, an indicator will be given on the state of the IP address, whether it is Free, Reserved, Claimed or Assigned.

../../../_images/blackstar-create-dns-record-ipam.png

IP Address Insights

The IP address insights feature aims to give details on the IP address and related objects. Hovering over the “i” icon will list further information or show a list of objects.

Typing in the full IP address in the the Address field will indicate the state of the IP address. Additionally, the IP insights are shown, which are details on the IP address itself and related objects.

../../../_images/blackstar-create-dns-record-ipam-insights.png

Hovering over info icon for Network will show more details on the network.

../../../_images/blackstar-create-dns-record-ipam-insights-network.png

Hovering over the icon for the Properties will show a list of all defined properties for the specified IP address.

../../../_images/blackstar-create-dns-record-ip-properties.png

Hovering over the icon for the DNS hosts will show a list of all defined DNS hosts for the specified IP address.

../../../_images/blackstar-create-dns-record-ip-hosts.png

Network

The network containing the specified IP address

Network type

Either an IP address range or a DHCP scope

Properties

Various properties including custom properties, if defined.

DHCP client

DNS hosts

Lists all DNS hosts that are set for the specified IP address

MAC address

The MAC address of the discovered device

Last seen

The date for which the IP address was last seen

Time to live (TTL)

Throughout the system, the TTL value can either be specified in seconds or using the shorthand notation, such as

1s:

1 second

1m

1 minute

1h

1 hour

1d

1 day

1w

1 week

Editing a DNS record

  1. Select the DNS record in the DNS record list

  2. Either click Edit in the main task bar, or click on Edit DNS record in the Inspector actions.

  3. A dialog is displayed which allows you to modify the DNS record

  4. Click Save to persist the changes.

Deleting a DNS record

  1. Select the DNS record in the DNS record list

  2. Click on Delete in the main task bar or click on Delete DNS record in the Inspector actions.

  3. Users will be prompted before the record(s) are deleted

Disabling a DNS record

  1. Select the DNS record in the DNS record list

  2. Click on Disable DNS record in the Inspector actions.

  3. Users will be prompted before the record(s) are disabled