An SRV record may come up when you are configuring services such as Microsoft 365 or a VoIP system. It sounds somewhat technical, possibly even a bit daunting. However it is never really that bad once you realize what it is that you are looking at.
SRV records assist devices and applications in understanding where to browse to reach a particular service on your network. Think of them like signposts. They direct the right traffic to the right destination, be it a call or a chat app or even something as simple as a Minecraft server. Without them, stuff simply does not add up as it should.
Assuming you have ever played around with DNS settings, you will likely find that to Manage SRV Records is not as easy as A or CNAME records. It goes a little further–there are additional bits such as priority, weight, and port numbers. That is what makes them so flexible, too.
But when you get used to it then it is easy to keep SRV records as a routine. Like checking your router or setting up a new email address.
SRV records are a form of DNS records which can be used to route traffic to particular services on your domain. They are small cues informing devices the location of some of these services-be it email, voice calls, or even game servers. Your phone would not know where to connect to have a VoIP call, or your computer would not know where to send an email without them.
SRV records are a little more specific than DNS records such as an A or CNAME record, which simply points to an IP address or alias. Not only do they inform you of the IP address the server is running on, but also of which service is being run on the server, and what port to connect to it and occasionally the priority of the service. Thus, when you have several servers that serve the same service, SRV records can be used to determine which server to connect to first.
The following is a brief overview of an SRV record:
Target: This is the last and the hostname of the server that offers the service. This tells the device where to actually connect.
Now, to make things clear, let’s look at an example:
_sip._tcp.example.com. 3600 IN SRV 10 60 5060 sipserver.example.com.The moment you lay it out like this you understand a lot easier what is going on. Every bit of the SRV record is a pointer to a particular portion of the service setup.
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Click HereAn addition of a SRV record may sound a little technical but once it is simplified it is not very difficult. Consider it as establishing guidelines to a service in your territory. These records enable the devices to determine the directions that they should take in regards to specific services such as email or voice calls. SRV record should be your choice as long as you have a service that requires access via a certain port or protocol.
It is not very difficult when you have the idea of what to search for. You will only need to get some information regarding your service such as what the protocol is, what the priority of your servers is and the right port number. This will enable all to fall into place.
First, Log in to your cPanel and head to the Zone Editor. You’ll see a list of domains you manage. Pick the one you want to add the SRV record for.
Once you’re in the Zone Editor for that domain, click on “Add Record”. In the list of record types, choose SRV.
Now you will have to fill some fields. Here’s what each one means:
TTL is the duration on which the record will be held by the rest of the DNS servers. There is no need to modify it unless you have a particular reason (usually 3600 seconds or 1 hour).
Once you have entered all the information, hit the button Add Record to save. Check twice after saving, to ensure that there are no typing errors or wrong spellings.
There are occasions when things may vary and you may be required to edit / delete an SRV record. It can be updating the target server or moving the target server to another port and it is normally a fast process.
Just make an entry to your DNS management interface (such as the Zone Editor in cPanel, or any other platform you may be on).
You will find a list of your DNS records. Look for the ones marked as SRV. They’ll usually have the service and protocol listed in the name field (like _sip._tcp).
After locating the SRV record you would like to modify, be sure to press the button of Edit (that term may have a different meaning with your provider).
Here you can change such details as the target (the hostname the service is running on), the port number, or even the priority (when redistributing traffic).
When you are making important modifications such as a server address or port change, always proofread twice before you save. Such a minor error can make the difference.
Removing an SRV record is just as easy as just clicking Delete next to the record in your DNS management interface.
You must first save a copy of your DNS settings, however, in case of a hitch.
Deleting records without any backup may leave it difficult to reverse changes as required. It is always better to export your DNS zone or capture a screen shot of what you are currently using.
Related Article: What to Do if the DNS Zone Editor Is Missing or Not Working
Keeping SRV records is not that difficult, yet planning can do wonders. The correct strategy will help you not to be confused and ensure that your services proceed. These are some of the tips that will ensure that all is in order and secure.
Keep your SRV records to a definite naming system. It is also easier to track things by using something such as service.protocol (e.g., sip.tcp). In this manner you will not need to dig at a later time when you need to update or even troubleshoot.
Copy your current configurations before any changes are made. It is a simple process, yet it might save you much trouble in case something goes amiss. It is always good to have a backup in place rather than scramble to figure out what went wrong.
Give the changes some time to propagate throughout the internet after you have made some updates. DNS propagation may be slow, even longer than 24 hours. When it is not functioning immediately, it does not mean there is a reason to panic, but to come back after some time.
Ensure that whatever you point to in your SRV record is an actual A record, not a CNAME record. The CNAMEs would lead to problems thus it is better to have a direct IP address. It will keep you out of any unnecessary surprises in the future.
SRV records can be a little bit intimidating to manage particularly in the beginning, but once you divide it into sections, it is just a matter of ensuring that everything fits in. Consider them as traffic signs, they direct all the appropriate information to appropriate locations. Of course, you have more details to deal with than with simpler records of records, but that is the flexibility which makes SRV records so useful in a wide range of services. These records ensure that all things are working smoothly, whether it is email servers or VoIP systems.
You can stick to some good habits, such as naming everything consistently and always saving a copy of your work before modifying it, and then you will maintain a manageable work environment. And even where you have to edit or delete records, it is a simple operation that would not take a lot of time. You just need to remember you have to monitor propagation times and have to make sure your target servers are configured correctly.
Then, be it the first time you are configuring a service or simply doing maintenance, managing the SRV records is second nature as soon as you understand the ropes. You will be ready to deal with any DNS difficulties that arise.
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SRV records are pretty important when it comes to making sure things run smoothly. They instruct your devices where to be to get a certain service and they also give a preference to which server should be served first. Therefore, when one server is down/busy it can backup to another server. When properly configured, they prevent service outage or slowness.
Without appropriate SRV records, or with an error, things will not work as they are supposed to. Just think how it feels to make a call with your VoIP system and nothing happens or emails just hang. It is frustrating, and fortunately it is a problem that can often be corrected quite quickly once you identify the issue at hand.
Not at all! SRV records can be used in any number of things- VoIP, of course, but also game servers (like Minecraft), chat applications, or even VPNs. As long as there’s a service that needs traffic directed to a specific server, SRV records can make that happen.
When you update or add SRV records, they don’t go live instantly. It may take up to a few minutes, or even 24 hours to propagate DNS changes throughout the web. The Time to Live (TTL) number you specify determines the rate at which those updates occur, so do remember that its value in case you are making rapid updates and need to have things updated more rapidly.
In technicality, no, there is no actual limit. But don’t go overboard. Excess records may cause things to be cluttered and more difficult to troubleshoot in the future. Stick to only the essentials. When you have many it also does not do any good to your DNS performance, and therefore it is better to keep it clean and simple.
Just the duration of time your SRV record remains valid in other DNS systems before they check again to update it is known as TTL or Time to Live. A lower TTL will cause your changes to be taken faster, however it may make your DNS servers work a little harder. Longer TTLs can be used in case you are not planning to change things substantially.
When your SRV record is not functioning, the initial way is to debug. Check the service, protocol, target, port, all the good stuff. To ensure that it is resolving properly, you can use such tools as dig or any other DNS checker. And one more thing–it may sometimes be necessary to give things time to spread. However, when it has been a long time, and it is not yet working, perhaps verify whether the server itself is not offline, or are the ports open.
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