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DNS and services

Import and migrate DNS records

Use this guide to bring an existing DNS zone into Domain Chief without replacing records you still need.

Choose your task

• Upload an export
• Enter BIND zone contents
• Import from TransIP
• Copy another hosted zone
• Choose between replace and merge
• Review an import safely
• Fix an import problem

Before you import

The domain must use Domain Chief hosted DNS, or be preparing it. Open Domains, select the domain, and choose Manage DNS records in its DNS section.

If the domain still uses another DNS provider, select Manage nameservers and then Prepare records first. You can then import and check the zone before the nameservers change. See Prepare records before switching.

Export the current zone before a migration, even when you plan to merge. Keep that export until the website, email, redirects, and verification records work with the imported zone.

Import a zone

1. Open Domains and select the destination domain.
2. In the DNS section, select Manage DNS records.
3. Select Import below the records table.
4. Choose Upload a file, BIND zone contents, TransIP, or Copy a hosted zone.
5. Complete the fields for that source.
6. Select Review import.
7. Check every record under Added, Removed, and Unchanged.
8. Resolve any Import blocked notice.
9. Select Confirm import only when the preview matches your intended zone.

What happens next

Domain Chief returns to the records page and sends the new zone to its hosted DNS provider. Public resolvers may continue using previous answers until their TTL expires.

Use the Chief Tools DNS checker to check the public records. Test the website and both incoming and outgoing email before removing the old DNS zone.

Choose an import source

Upload an export

Choose Upload a file for a BIND zone, CSV, XLSX, or ODS export up to 1 MB.

1. Check the Source domain. Change it when the export belongs to a different domain.
2. Choose Replace the full zone or Merge with existing records.
3. Drop the export into DNS records, or select it from your computer.
4. Select Review import.

CSV and spreadsheet imports need columns for the record name, type, and value or data. TTL and priority columns are optional. Domain Chief shows an error before changing the zone when it cannot read the file or a record is invalid.

Enter BIND zone contents

Choose BIND zone contents when you have the text of a BIND zone file rather than a saved file.

1. Check the Source domain.
2. Choose Replace the full zone or Merge with existing records.
3. Enter the records in BIND zone format.
4. Select Review import.

The text field accepts BIND syntax. CSV and spreadsheet data must be uploaded as files instead.

Import from TransIP

The TransIP option retrieves records with a read-only access token and always replaces the full destination zone.

1. Create a read-only token in the TransIP API settings.
2. Enter the Source domain. It may differ from the destination domain when both belong to the same TransIP account.
3. Enter the Read-only access token.
4. Select Review import.

Domain Chief uses the token once and does not save it. The token field is cleared after the records have been retrieved.

Copy another hosted zone

Choose Copy a hosted zone to use another Domain Chief hosted zone in the same team as a template. This option appears only when another hosted zone is available.

1. Select the Source zone.
2. Select Review import.

Copying replaces the full destination zone. Domain Chief copies the record type, name, content, TTL, priority, and comment. Hostname targets that refer to the source domain are rewritten for the destination domain.

Web redirects and mail-forwarding settings are not copied. Configure those features separately after the records are in place.

Review and apply the import

Choose between replace and merge

Use replace for a complete and current export. Use merge when the import contains only part of the zone or Domain Chief already manages records that must remain.

TransIP imports and hosted-zone copies use replace. File uploads and BIND zone contents let you choose.

Review the import

The review separates the plan into:

• Added records that will be created.
• Removed records that will no longer exist after the import.
• Unchanged records that already match.

Pay closest attention to removed website, MX, SPF, DKIM, DMARC, verification, redirect, and mail-forwarding records. Expand Unchanged when you need to compare the complete zone.

Domain Chief blocks confirmation when the import would remove DNS records required by an active web redirect or mail-forwarding configuration. Open the linked settings and decide whether to keep or remove that feature before reviewing the import again.

If the destination zone changes after you review it, Domain Chief creates a new plan and asks you to confirm again. Read the updated plan rather than assuming it matches the first preview.

Troubleshooting

Why is Copy a hosted zone missing?

The team needs another domain with Domain Chief hosted DNS. The destination domain, domains using custom nameservers, and domains that are still preparing hosted DNS are not offered as sources.

Why does the file fail before showing a preview?

Check that it is a BIND zone, CSV, XLSX, or ODS file no larger than 1 MB. For CSV and spreadsheets, include columns for name, type, and value or data. Also check that Source domain matches the domain represented by the export.

Why is the import blocked?

The proposed removals include records managed by an active web redirect or mail-forwarding setup. Follow Open redirects and mail settings, then keep the feature or remove its configuration before trying the import again.

Why did the preview change when I confirmed it?

The destination zone changed after the review. Domain Chief refreshed the plan to prevent an outdated preview from being applied. Check the new additions and removals, then confirm again.

Why are the old records still visible publicly?

DNS resolvers may cache the previous answer until its TTL expires. Confirm that the records page has no synchronization warning, then check the domain with the Chief Tools DNS checker.