All three (CNames, A Records and Aliases) map names to IP Addresses. The difference between these is:

  • The A record maps a name to one or more IP addresses, when the IP are known and stable.
  • The CNAME record maps a name to another name. It should only be used when there are no other records on that name.
  • The ALIAS record maps a name to another name, but in turns it can coexist with other records on that name.

 

The general rule is:

  • use an A record if you manage what IP addresses are assigned to a particular machine or if the IP are fixed (this is the most common case)
  • use a CNAME record if you want to alias a name to another name, and you don’t need other records (such as MX records for emails) for the same name
  • use an ALIAS record if you are trying to alias the root domain (apex zone) or if you need other records for the same name
  • use the URL record if you want the name to redirect (change address) instead of resolving to a destination.

Anuj holds professional certifications in Google Cloud, AWS as well as certifications in Docker and App Performance Tools such as New Relic. He specializes in Cloud Security, Data Encryption and Container Technologies.

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Anuj Varma – who has written posts on Anuj Varma, Hands-On Technology Architect, Clean Air Activist.

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