This article explains whether DNS changes made in UltraDNS can be pushed out to the internet immediately.
It applies when updating DNS records and expecting instant global propagation.
When to Use This Article
- You recently updated a DNS record.
- You want changes to take effect immediately.
- You are troubleshooting propagation timing.
How DNS Propagation Works
DNS changes made in UltraDNS are published to authoritative name servers almost immediately.
However, recursive resolvers and end-user systems cache DNS responses based on the record’s TTL (time-to-live).
Because of caching, changes cannot be forced or pushed out instantly to all users across the internet.
What Determines How Fast Changes Take Effect
- The TTL value of the DNS record.
- The caching behavior of recursive DNS resolvers.
- Whether the previous record response is still cached.
Best Practice Before Making Changes
- Lower the TTL of the record in advance if you anticipate making changes.
- Wait for the lower TTL to propagate before making the update.
- Make the required DNS change.
Verification
Use DNS query tools such as dig or nslookup to check record responses from different recursive resolvers.
Compare responses to confirm when the updated record becomes visible.
Important Notes
- UltraDNS updates authoritative servers quickly, but external caching cannot be bypassed.
- Some ISPs cache records longer than the published TTL.
- Propagation timing varies globally.