What happens if you corrupt your DNS zone?
If you delete or corrupt your DNS zone file, it can have significant consequences for the proper functioning of your domain's DNS resolution. The DNS zone file contains essential information that maps domain names to their corresponding IP addresses and provides other DNS-related records like MX (mail exchange), CNAME (canonical name), and TXT (text) records.
Here's what can happen if you delete or corrupt your DNS zone file:
- Domain Inaccessibility: Deleting or corrupting the DNS zone file can render your domain name inaccessible. Without the proper DNS records in place, users attempting to access your website or services may encounter errors or fail to establish a connection.
- Email Delivery Issues: The DNS zone file contains MX records that specify the mail servers responsible for handling incoming emails for your domain. If these records are deleted or corrupted, it can result in email delivery problems. Incoming emails may bounce back to the sender or fail to reach the intended recipients.
- Subdomain and Service Disruption: DNS zone files are used to configure subdomains and point them to specific IP addresses or services. If the zone file is deleted or corrupted, subdomains may stop functioning correctly, leading to disruptions in specific services or functionalities associated with those subdomains.
- DNS Resolution Failures: DNS zone files also contain essential DNS records like A (address) and CNAME (canonical name) records that map domain names to IP addresses. If these records are missing or incorrect due to deletion or corruption, DNS resolution failures can occur. This means that users may not be able to access your website or services by their domain names.
- Time to Recovery: Restoring a deleted or corrupted DNS zone file typically requires intervention from the domain registrar or DNS service provider. The recovery process can take time, depending on the provider's procedures and response time. During this period, your domain's services may remain unavailable.
To mitigate the impact of a deleted or corrupted DNS zone file, it is crucial to have regular backups in place. Additionally, it's recommended to have proper change management processes, employ redundant DNS configurations, and consult with your domain registrar or DNS provider for guidance and support in case such an issue arises.
If you lack the necessary expertise, we're here, please get in touch. If you want to learn more about why DNS is important, please see our article 'Is DNS Important?'.
