Azure DNS basics - Step-by-Step Execution

Process Flow - Azure DNS basics

Create DNS Zone

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Add DNS Records

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DNS Zone Hosted in Azure

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Clients Query DNS

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Azure DNS Resolves Queries

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Clients Get IP Addresses

This flow shows how you create a DNS zone in Azure, add records, and how clients query Azure DNS to get IP addresses.

Execution Sample

Azure

az network dns zone create -g MyResourceGroup -n example.com
az network dns record-set a add-record -g MyResourceGroup -z example.com -n www -a 10.1.2.3

Creates a DNS zone named example.com and adds an A record for www.example.com pointing to IP 10.1.2.3.

Process Table

Step	Action	Resource Group	DNS Zone	Record Set	Record Type	Record Value	Result
1	Create DNS Zone	MyResourceGroup	example.com	-	-	-	DNS zone example.com created
2	Add A Record	MyResourceGroup	example.com	www	A	10.1.2.3	A record www.example.com -> 10.1.2.3 added
3	Client DNS Query	-	example.com	www	A	-	Azure DNS returns 10.1.2.3
4	Client DNS Query	-	example.com	mail	A	-	No record found, NXDOMAIN returned

💡 Execution stops after client queries show how Azure DNS resolves or fails to resolve records.

Status Tracker

Variable	Start	After Step 1	After Step 2	After Step 3	After Step 4
DNS Zone	None	example.com created	example.com exists	example.com exists	example.com exists
Record Set www	None	None	A record with IP 10.1.2.3	A record with IP 10.1.2.3	A record with IP 10.1.2.3
Record Set mail	None	None	None	None	None

Key Moments - 3 Insights

Why does the client get NXDOMAIN for mail.example.com?

Because no A record was added for 'mail' in the DNS zone, Azure DNS returns NXDOMAIN as shown in execution_table step 4.

What happens if you create a DNS zone but add no records?

Clients querying any record will get NXDOMAIN because no records exist, similar to step 4 in the execution_table.

Does creating a DNS zone automatically create records?

No, creating a DNS zone only sets up the container. Records must be added separately as shown in step 2.

Visual Quiz - 3 Questions

Look at the execution_table, what IP address does Azure DNS return for www.example.com at step 3?

A 10.0.0.1

B NXDOMAIN

C 10.1.2.3

D No response

💡 Hint

Check the 'Record Value' and 'Result' columns in step 3 of execution_table.

At which step does the DNS zone example.com get created?

A Step 2

B Step 1

C Step 3

D Step 4

💡 Hint

Look at the 'Action' column in execution_table for when the DNS zone is created.

If you add an A record for mail.example.com with IP 10.2.3.4, what changes in variable_tracker after step 4?

A Record Set mail changes from None to A record with IP 10.2.3.4

B DNS Zone changes from example.com to None

C Record Set www changes to None

D No changes occur

💡 Hint

Refer to the 'Record Set mail' row in variable_tracker to see how records update.

Concept Snapshot

Azure DNS basics:
- Create a DNS zone to hold your domain records.
- Add DNS records (A, CNAME, etc.) to the zone.
- Azure DNS hosts the zone and answers queries.
- Clients query Azure DNS to resolve domain names to IPs.
- No records means queries return NXDOMAIN.

Full Transcript

This visual execution shows how Azure DNS works step-by-step. First, you create a DNS zone in a resource group. Then you add DNS records like A records to that zone. Azure DNS hosts the zone and answers client queries. When a client asks for www.example.com, Azure DNS returns the IP address from the A record. If a record does not exist, Azure DNS returns NXDOMAIN. Variables track the DNS zone and records state after each step. Key moments clarify common confusions about missing records and zone creation. The quiz tests understanding of the DNS zone creation, record addition, and query results.