Domains and DNS records that exist in your UltraDNS account can be queried before UltraDNS name servers are made authoritative.
This allows you to validate zone configuration and record data prior to updating delegation at the registrar.
How Pre-Authoritative Queries Work
Even when UltraDNS name servers are not yet configured at the registrar, the zone and its records are still present on the UltraDNS platform.
By directing DNS queries explicitly to UltraDNS name servers, you can retrieve authoritative responses for testing purposes.
How to Query a Zone Before Delegation
To query a zone before UltraDNS name servers are authoritative, specify an UltraDNS name server directly in your DNS query. For example, using dig:
dig @ns1.ultradns.net example.com A
Or using nslookup:
nslookup example.com ns1.ultradns.net
These queries bypass normal delegation and return responses directly from UltraDNS for validation.
When This Is Useful
- Verifying DNS records before updating registrar delegation
- Validating complex record configurations
- Troubleshooting issues prior to going live
- Confirming expected responses during migrations
Important Notes
- Only queries that explicitly specify UltraDNS name servers will return results before delegation.
- Public resolvers will not return UltraDNS data until name servers are updated at the registrar.
- This does not make UltraDNS authoritative for general traffic until delegation is completed.