Plesk 11.5 - Integrate Amazon Route 53

[ras_koomohost]

Referencing this article http://download1.parallels.com/Ples...inistrator-guide/index.htm?fileName=72230.htm -

What does integration with Amazon Route 53 mean? We can use the Plesk DNS panel and it will update Amazon Route 53? Is it an all or nothing, meaning can we choose Amz R 53 for some domains and local DNS (bind) on others?

Thanks, hope that made sense.

Anthony

 

[IgorG]

What does integration with Amazon Route 53 mean? We can use the Plesk DNS panel and it will update Amazon Route 53?

Yes. You'll use Amazon Route 53 absolutely transparently. In the same way as if you were using a local DNS server.

can we choose Amz R 53 for some domains and local DNS (bind) on others?

No. You can use it server wide only.

 

[ras_koomohost]

Does the CloudFlare module work well with it too?

Thanks Igor.

 

[IgorG]

Does the CloudFlare module work well with it too?

I think that shouldn't be problems with it.

 

[ras_koomohost]

Thank you Igor for your prompt replies.

 

[ras_koomohost]

Sorry if my question is elementary. I'm used to using cloud services like Route 53 separately but not in a panel. If we integrated Route 53 into the Plesk panel as mentioned above, I'm assuming the name servers used would be Amazon's?

 

[ras_koomohost]

If there are existing domains on Route 53, after integration into Plesk, will Plesk pull those records from Route 53 and into the panel?

 

[patbegg]

Info removed here as incorrect info given from Plesk support.

Please see below Q&A which I have been told it is definitely correct (got ticket escalated in Plesk support).

 

[ras_koomohost]

Hmm.. that's not true. Integrating Amazon Route 53 into Plesk, allows you to manage DNS within Plesk DNS. Route 53 runs in the background and you, your customers, resellers use the DNS as normal. Unless this has changed in Plesk 12.

 

[patbegg]

Can someone from Plesk team please confirm which is correct. here is the ticket number [Parallels #1930590] Integration with Amazon Route53 and DNS

 

[ras_koomohost]

Well, considering I used it, my customers used it and resellers did, I am correct.

The instructions had issues, so the Parallels team had to fix a few things and my team configured per the instructions.

We were on 11.5 at the time.

 

[IgorG]

Can someone from Plesk team please confirm which is correct. here is the ticket number [Parallels #1930590] Integration with Amazon Route53 and DNS

I see this ticket but I do not see this question there. Why do not you ask this question in scope of existing ticket? Support Team will help you.

 

[patbegg]

Hi,
So after about 4 days and several Plesk support staff later we've got to the correct answers to the following questions about integrating Amazon Route53 with Plesk. (ras_koomohost you were correct). We're using Plesk 12.


########## FROM PLESK SUPPORT, Parallels #1930590 ############
Here are the answers to your questions:

1. If we are using Route53 do we turn the 'DNS Server BIND' off in 'Services Management'?
Local DNS server and external DNS on Amazon may work in parallel. There is no need to turn local DNS server off having external DNS server configured.

2. If we are using Route53 is DNS managed in Plesk or in Amazon Route53? e.g. TXT records and A, CNAME etc etc
DNS is managed by Plesk, and zone files' changes are propagated to external DNS server by script.

3. If we have the Plesk Route53 Extension installed (in 'extensions') and we turn off the 'DNS Server BIND' we notice users can still change DNS settings in a domain. Do these changes have any effect on the DNS?
That is normal, because you still have DNS Server component installed on Plesk. DNS settings are still propagated to Route53 external DNS server.

4. If we turn the Plesk Route53 extension OFF (and possibly the DNS Sever back on depending on the above questions) does DNS management return to Plesk automatically?
When external DNS server is configured, zone files are still managed by Plesk. So, if you turn the Plesk Route53 extension off (in 'Extensions' in Plesk), DNS management will still be done by Plesk.

==========================

1. If we have the Route53 extension installed in Plesk (so records are managed in Plesk but updated in Route53 through the API) do we need the Plesk 'DNS Server BIND’ turned ON or OFF?
You may either turn it ON or OFF, zone files will still be managed by Plesk, unless you delete DNS Server component from Plesk.

2. If we turn the Route53 extension ON does Plesk use the DNS records shown in Route53 AND Plesk or ONLY those shown in Plesk? (so if we add records in Route53 but not Plesk does Plesk still use these)
Yes local DNS server on Plesk will use these records, if the records were added via Plesk, not manually. If you add DNS records manually to external DNS Server, local DNS server on Plesk won't use them and may re-write or delete them. Plesk with DNS Server component installed is a master which propagates DNS zone changes to external servers.

3, If we want to manage all our DNS ONLY in Route53 (no DNS at all in Plesk) what is the correct configuration?
For example,
Route53 extension: OFF
Plesk DNS Server BIND: OFF
Run command: plesk bin server_dns —disable-custom-backend
If you want to manage your DNS zones manually in Roure 53, you should remove DNS server component and its Route53 integration from Plesk. Please, check http://download1.parallels.com/Plesk/PP12/12.0/Doc/en-US/online/plesk-administrator-guide/72907.htm#

I hope this helps. Took us a while to get there!

Note to Plesk staff: It would be great if we could get this stuff into the documentation so it can help everyone (it took Plesk several staff and a good few contradictions to get to the correct answers).