Features

DNS Azure comes packed with features.

Use Your Own Registrar

You can continue with your own registrar, as there is no need to transfer the domains. Just make sure to update your information, specifying our name servers.

Simple Automatic IP

For your A records, simply specify your cloudapp.net address and the IP address will be set automatically.

Failover Handling

You can specify a failover address. The IP address will be automatically changed whenever your Cloud App is down.

Designed for Windows Azure

Set and forget. Because it was designed for Windows Azure, it runs on Windows Azure, and it just works.

Static A and AAAA Records

You can have any number of static A and AAAA records.

API

You can add domains and change your records programmatically with our API. See API manual for more info.

Unlimited DNS Records

You can specify any number of CNAME, MX, NS, SRV, and TXT records. These will be updated as quickly as our automatic records.

Easy Login

You need no username or password for DNS Azure, and you don't need to register. Just use your Windows Live ID, Google, or Facebook account.

Simple Pricing

You have a single price per zone, no matter how often your IP address changes, how many records you have, or how many DNS queries you get — there are no hidden charges.

Easy Payments

We support Paypal, so you have no-risk payments.

FAQ

There are tons of Dynamic DNS services. Why should I use DNS Azure?

Dynamic DNS services are meant for home users, and they require a service running in the user's computer to contact the DNS server whenever the IP changes. There is no other way to know the new IP address from outside. Windows Azure does not have such a computer in which to run your services. You could create a role for that, but it would cost you more than $1000/year. DNS Azure was created specifically to monitor your Azure Cloud App and change the DNS records whenever your IP address changes.

How quickly does DNS Azure change the DNS records?

Microsoft informs the DNS changes every 15 seconds, and so do we. Every time the IP address changes, there will be a maximum 15 second gap before all DNS servers worldwide know the new address. But your browser and operating system have a DNS cache that may affect the actual result in your computer. Please see How Internet Explorer uses the cache for DNS host entries.

Do you have an API?

Yes, and it is available to every user. Sign in, click "settings" (top right) and find your API key. See API manual for more info.

If I change the Azure application address for my domain (i.e. the "appname" in "appname.cloudapp.net"), how quickly does this change take effect?

Changing the appname takes 20-90 seconds. There is one "but": after you browse to a domain name, your browser or your operating system will cache the address for some time, no matter what the DNS time-to-live value is. Hitting F5 (Refresh) does not force the browser to update the address. This means that you don't see the changes in your browser but the customers who have not recently used your site will see the new address ok. There are many articles about DNS Caching on the web and tampering with it can be really complicated.

How reliable is your DNS service?

Instead of having DNS servers of our own, we focus only on providing a product that informs the DNS services when your IP address has changed. Community DNS serves 585 billion queries a day and have had 100% uptime since 1996. As for DNS Azure core, it runs on Windows Azure and provides a reliable Windows Azure service.

Why would I need my own domain name? Isn't myname.cloudapp.net good enough?

The standard yourname.cloudapp.net address is good if you only rely on linking from search engines and other pages. However, it is not an address that will be easy for your clients to remember and type into the browser. Your website address is like a trademark, and you want that to be easy to remember.

Can I return a domain name after registering it? Can I have my money back if I don't need your services any more?

Please see our section: Refund Policy.

I already own a domain name. Can I transfer it?

All you need to do is change your name server addresses with your domain registrar. You don't need to transfer anything. We do not offer domain registration. You should log in with your Windows Live ID to view the name server addresses.

What are the addresses of your name servers?

Please log in with your Windows Live ID. Go to Manage My DNS and click on your domain name. You will see the name server addresses there. These may vary for different domains, so they are not publicly available.

I changed my name servers with my registrar but nothing happened. What should I do?

You should wait. While DNS Azure updates the records in real-time and the world will know it in no more than 10 seconds, most domain registrars take their time when updating their records. You may have to wait up to 2 days before the changes are propagated.

As I log in with my Windows Live ID, what info do you get about me?

We get no information from Microsoft. We even don't get your Live ID email address. The only thing we get is a globally unique tag that will show us when the same person returns to our site.

Terms and Conditions of Service

Customer's use of DNS Azure's facilities to host domain name service (DNS) records shall constitute Customer's acceptance of the terms and conditions in this Agreement. The term "you" or "your" shall refer to Customer.

Term

The initial and minimum service period for DNS Azure service is one(1) month from the effective date. The term of this agreement is extended in 1 month increments automatically if not explicitly cancelled through Paypal.

Pricing

DNS Azure reserves the right to modify pricing at any time. Pricing will only be modified for new purchases.

General

In no event shall DNS Azure be liable for the usefulness, quality, or content of data accessed by the Customer through DNS Azure facilities, nor responsible for any loss due to temporary or permanent failure of service provision, nor for use of the DNS Azure service by Customer or any third party for illegal purposes. Customer will indemnify and hold harmless DNS Azure from any action by any third party related to Customer's use of DNS Azure services and Customer's services.

In no events shall DNS Azure be liable for service problems or other losses arising on account of acts of God, fire, labor disputes of any nature, accident, supplier failure or delay, or other causes beyond the reasonable control of DNS Azure.

DNS Azure places no general restrictions of the use of data or information used or retrieved by Customer through DNS Azure facilities, rather the license, copyright, public domain, trade secret, or any other laws or protections covering such data will apply.

DNS Azure will inform Customer when service is operational and billing will commence as of that specified date, this becoming the effective date of the initial term of service hereunder.

DNS Azure will furnish contact information to enable Customer to report and resolve service problems.

This Agreement and other applicable terms and conditions posted at dnsazure.com constitute the entire understanding between Customer and DNS Azure with regard to DNS hosting. Any modifications to this Agreement must be in writing and signed by a duly authorized representative of Customer and a duly authorized officer of DNS Azure.

Where DNS Azure's systems are recognized as the authoritative source for DNS entries in your domain or domains, DNS Azure is not obligated to ensure that (a) your DNS records are correctly configured, (b) your DNS entries will be properly resolved, or (c) DNS Azure's DNS systems will be continuously available on an uninterrupted basis. You acknowledge that it is your responsibility to test DNS Azure's implementation or your DNS hosting and notify DNS Azure of any misconfiguration or error in that implementation. DNS Azure will make right all errors that are brought to DNS Azure's attention.

You agree that DNS Azure has no obligation to ensure that your domain registration is maintained in a current status by Your registrar or any other entity. You are solely responsible for ensuring that your domain registration is kept current and accurate and that your account with your registrar is kept current.

In the event that your DNS hosting arrangement with DNS Azure is terminated, you agree that DNS Azure has no obligation to provide DNS files, settings, or any other material related to your DNS entries in DNS Azure's DNS system to you or any third party, and you agree that DNS Azure has no obligation to forward DNS requests to or from your new DNS host.

You acknowledge that the Internet is an inherently insecure environment and that any computer or other equipment you attach directly or indirectly to the Internet may become the target of computer hackers and is susceptible to attacks from viruses and the lake. Your are solely responsible for keeping your machines secure and free of viruses or other harmful programs that can directly or indirectly interfere with the operation of DNS Azure's services. You are solely responsible for guarding against and repairing your computers and other systems from any infection by malicious code or unauthorized use.

You agree not to resell any of DNS Azure's services to any third party without first entering into a Reseller Agreement with DNS Azure.

You agree to pay when due for the valid charges of DNS Azure's services and agree that such timely payment is an essential condition for DNS Azure's service(s). DNS Azure will not pay interest on deposits unless required by law to do so. Faxed copies of signatures shall be as legally binding as original signatures. Any over billing errors must be reported to DNS Azure within 90 days of the error, and adjustments or refunds for error over 90 days will not be made. DNS Azure reserves the right to bill you for any item that has not been billed to you and should have been.

Termination for Cause

Either party may terminate this Agreement for cause without penalty in the event that the other party breaches any material item of this Agreement. Prior to such termination, the party intending to terminate shall first give the other party written notice of its intent to terminate which shall clearly describe the problem(s) constituting cause. Other than as otherwise stated herein, the other party will have 30 days from the date of receipt of such notice to correct the problem. If the problem is not corrected within such period, the party intending to terminate may terminate this Agreement at the end of such 30th day without penalty.

DNS Azure services may be used only for lawful purposes. Use of DNS Azure's services in violation of any applicable law or regulation is prohibited. This includes, but not limited to transmitting data (a) which is threatening, pornographic, obscene,, or defamatory, (b) which belongs to a third party and is protected by copyright, trade secrets, patent or other intellectual property laws, or (c) which violates export control laws. Any access to other networks connected to DNS Azure must comply with the rules appropriate for the other networks. Customer agrees to indemnify and hold harmless DNS Azure from any claims resulting from Customer's use of the service or the use of the service by any of Customer's clients or users which damages DNS Azure or another party. If Customer violates DNS Azure's acceptable use standards, or permits such violation, DNS Azure shall notify Customer of such violation and if Customer does not remedy such violation within three(3) days of Customer's receipt of such notice, DNS Azure may terminate this Agreement without penalty.

You agree not to transmit or knowingly permit to be transmitted via any system you control or should control, to or across any site or service operated by DNS Azure, any content consisting of unsolicited bulk commercial email or excessive amounts of commercial Usenet posting (SPAM). DNS Azure enforces a policy of NO TOLERANCE with response to SPAM and abusive email, and DNS Azure suspend an account without notice if it believes Customer's equipment has been used to send SPAM.

If you compromise any DNS Azure network service or violate DNS Azure's acceptable use standards, your access and hosting via DNS Azure may be discontinued. You acknowledge DNS Azure's right to take all available legal and technical steps, including remotely scanning your internet protocol ports, to prevent fraudulent or counterfeit email from entering or utilizing the DNS Azure system.

If any amounts due and owing by Customer remain unpaid 30 days after date of invoice, DNS Azure may immediately terminate this Agreement by sending written notice.

Limitations on Liability

DNS Azure has the right, but not obligation, to monitor any activity and content associated with its hosted services. DNS Azure may investigate any complaint or reported violation of its policies and take any action it deems appropriate. Such action may include, but is not limited to, issuing warnings, suspension or termination of service, denying access, and/or removal of any DNS records hosted by DNS Azure.

DNS Azure also reserves the right to report any activity that it suspects violates any law or regulation to appropriate law enforcement officials, regulators, or other third parties. In order to cooperate with governmental request, to protect DNS Azure's systems and customers, or to ensure the integrity and operation of DNS Azure's business and systems, DNS Azure may access and disclose any information it considers necessary or appropriate, including by not limited to customer contact details, IP addressing and traffic information, usage history and posted content.

DNS Azure provides its web site and services "AS IS" and without any warranty or condition, express, implied or statutory. DNS Azure further specifically disclaims any implied warranties of title, merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringement for the services as provided. DNS Azure further disclaims any express or implied warranties that its services will meet your requirements, will always be available, accessible, uninterrupted, timely, secure, or operate without error.

In no event shall DNS Azure be liable for any lost profits or any special, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages arising out of, relating to, or in connection with, directly or indirectly, or intentionally or negligently, the use of DNS Azure's services or facilities.

DNS Azure's liability to you or any third party in any circumstance is limited to the lesser of (a) the amount of fees customer paid to DNS Azure in the twelve(12) month period directly prior to the action giving rise to alleged liability, or (b) $200.

Assignment

This Agreement shall not be assigned without prior written consent of DNS Azure, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The assignee shall have agreed to comply with and be bound by the terms of this Agreement and the assignor shall remain liable under this Agreement not withstanding such assignment.

The Agreement is assignable by DNS Azure to any successor of DNS Azure which acquires all or substantially all of the assets or businesses of DNS Azure or to an acquirer, whether by sale, merger, recapitalization or other business combination, of all of substantially all of the assets or businesses of DNS Azure without Customer's consent, provided that any such successor or assignee shall provide Customer with a written agreement that it shall be bound by all the terms of this Agreement.

Except as specified previously in this section, this Agreement is not assignable.

Miscellaneous

All notices and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be given to the other party by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:
   If to DNS Azure: support@dnsazure.com
   If to Customer: To the address on file in DNS Azure's web-based system.

The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held invalid or unenforceable in part, the remaining portion of such provision, together with all other provision of this Agreement, shall remain valid and enforceable and continue in full force and effect to the fullest extent consistent with law.

Customer and DNS Azure acknowledge that this Agreement supersedes any other agreement between them concerning the subject matter hereof, including those provision of the Predecessor Agreement relating to the subject matter hereof.

This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, without reference to principles of conflict of laws. The captions of this Agreement are not part of the provision hereof and shall have no force or effect. This Agreement may be amended or modified by DNS Azure by written notice provided to Customer 30 days prior to the effective date of the new agreement.