Learn how to monitor your Network Solutions hosted DNS records using ZoneWatcher's Public DNS provider, even without direct API access.
Network Solutions is one of the oldest and most established domain registrars and DNS hosting providers, serving millions of customers worldwide. Many businesses rely on Network Solutions for their DNS infrastructure, making it crucial to monitor these records for any unexpected changes that could impact their online presence.
From day 1, ZoneWatcher has always tried to integrate directly with DNS service providers like CloudFlare, Linode, AWS Route 53, and others using their native APIs. This allows us to get clean data feeds with the raw data directly from the source. However, that isn't always possible if the provider doesn't have an API or if it is behind an expensive paywall.
Unfortunately, Network Solutions doesn't offer a publicly accessible API that would allow ZoneWatcher to integrate directly with their platform. This means we can't pull your DNS records directly from their systems like we do with other providers. But don't worry - we have a solution that works just as well!
ZoneWatcher's Public DNS provider solves this challenge by fetching records using the public DNS system just like an end user would! With this approach, you provide your domain name and we "auto-magically" discover the most common records that domains have. Records like your www subdomain, blog, webmail, and much much more can be found in just a few seconds.
This method is particularly effective for Network Solutions customers because it bypasses the need for API access entirely. Instead, we query the public DNS infrastructure that Network Solutions uses to serve your records to the world.
When you add a zone using our Public DNS provider, the first sync will automatically discover the most common 5,000 DNS records for your domain, as well as records that you have had SSL/TLS certificates issued for in the past. This comprehensive discovery process ensures we catch the majority of your active DNS records without you having to manually specify each one.
It's perfectly normal for the first sync to take a few minutes to complete as the discovery process is running. Subsequent syncs will be much faster as we only need to check for changes.
For Network Solutions customers who have access to their zone files, ZoneWatcher provides an even more comprehensive monitoring solution. When creating a new zone with the Public DNS provider, you can upload a zone file (in standard .txt or .zone format) that contains all your DNS records.
This zone file import feature is particularly useful because Network Solutions customers can typically export their zone files from their DNS management interface. By uploading this file, you ensure that ZoneWatcher knows about all your DNS records from day one, including any custom or unusual records that might not be discovered during our standard auto-discovery process.
If you have a unique DNS record that hasn't been found by the auto-discovery process or wasn't included in your zone file, you can add it manually by clicking the "Add Missing Records" button. You'll then be prompted for the record name and the record types you'd like to check.
This flexibility ensures that even the most complex Network Solutions DNS configurations can be fully monitored by ZoneWatcher, regardless of how unique or specialized your setup might be.
To start monitoring your Network Solutions DNS records, simply create a new Public DNS provider on ZoneWatcher by giving it a descriptive name, adding your domain, and optionally uploading your zone file if you have one available.
Within minutes of setup, ZoneWatcher will begin monitoring your DNS records for any changes, sending you alerts whenever something is modified, added, or removed. This proactive monitoring helps ensure your Network Solutions-hosted domains remain stable and secure.
While Network Solutions doesn't provide direct API access, ZoneWatcher's Public DNS provider offers a robust solution for monitoring your critical DNS infrastructure. Whether you're managing a single domain or hundreds of Network Solutions-hosted domains, our platform provides the visibility and alerting you need to maintain a stable online presence.
Ready to start monitoring your Network Solutions DNS records? Sign up for ZoneWatcher today and gain peace of mind knowing your DNS changes are being tracked and monitored 24/7.
