A Start of Authority (SOA) record indicates who is responsible for that domain. The database within each cluster is synchronized through zone transfers. The SOA record for a zone contains data to control the zone transfer. This is the serial number and different timespans. It also contains the email address of the responsible person for this zone, as well as the name of the primary master name server. The SOA record format consists of several fields, each serving a specific purpose.
SOA Record Components
- Name of the primary server for the zone
- Administrator’s email address
- Serial number
- Refresh time
Understanding these components helps manage the domain more effectively.
Purpose of SOA Records
The primary purposes of a DNS SOA record are to:
- Define the authoritative name server for a domain
- Provide administrator contact details
- Facilitate DNS zone transfers between servers
- Control how changes propagate across clusters
SOA records ensure updates are synchronized across clusters and are needed to conform to standards.