AZ-104 Exam EP 18: Azure DNS

Introduction

This tutorial covers the essentials of Azure DNS, guiding you through the process of setting up and managing custom domains, DNS zones, and record sets. Understanding Azure DNS is crucial for Azure Administrators, especially for the AZ-104 certification exam.

Step 1: Understanding Domains and Custom Domains

• What is a domain? A domain is a unique name that identifies a website on the internet.
• Custom domains allow you to personalize your web address, making it more memorable and branded.
• Common examples of custom domains include www.yourcompany.com instead of a generic URL.

Step 2: Verifying Custom Domain Names

To verify a custom domain name in Azure:

1. Navigate to the Azure portal.
2. Select your resource (e.g., web app).
3. Go to the "Custom domains" section.
4. Add your custom domain:
   • Enter the domain name you wish to verify.
   • Follow the instructions to add a TXT record in your DNS provider to prove ownership.
5. Confirm the domain is verified in the Azure portal.

Step 3: Setting Up Azure DNS Zones

Azure DNS zones are essential for managing your domain names. Here’s how to set them up:

1. Go to the Azure portal.
2. Click on "Create a resource" and search for "DNS Zone."
3. Fill in the necessary information:
   • Subscription: Select your Azure subscription.
   • Resource group: Choose an existing group or create a new one.
   • Name: Enter your domain name (e.g., yourcompany.com).
4. Click “Review + create” and then “Create” to establish the DNS zone.

Step 4: Creating DNS Record Sets

Record sets are essential for directing web traffic. To create them:

1. Navigate to your DNS zone in the Azure portal.
2. Click on “+ Record set.”
3. Fill in the details:
   • Name: Leave blank for root domain or enter a subdomain.
   • Type: Choose the record type (A, CNAME, MX, etc.).
   • TTL: Set the Time to Live (in seconds).
   • IP address or alias: Enter the destination address.
4. Save the record set. Repeat this for additional record types as needed.

Step 5: Configuring DNS for Private Domains

If you need to manage private DNS zones:

1. Create a private DNS zone in the Azure portal.
2. Link it to your virtual network.
3. Add necessary record sets to resolve domain names within your network.

Step 6: Exploring Benefits of Azure DNS

• High availability: Azure DNS is hosted in Azure's global network, ensuring redundancy.
• Scalability: Easily manage large volumes of DNS queries.
• Security features: Azure provides DNS security measures to protect your domains.

Conclusion

In this tutorial, we have covered the foundational aspects of Azure DNS, including setting up domains, verifying custom domains, creating DNS zones and record sets, and understanding the advantages of Azure DNS. As you prepare for the AZ-104 exam, ensure you practice these concepts in the Azure portal for a better understanding. Consider exploring additional resources or hands-on labs to reinforce your knowledge.