Monitoring Network Solutions DNS
Network Solutions is one of the oldest and most established domain registrars and DNS hosting providers. Since Network Solutions does not provide a public API, you can monitor your domains using ZoneWatcher's Public DNS provider for automatic DNS record monitoring.
No API Available
Unlike many modern DNS providers, Network Solutions does not offer a publicly accessible API for automated DNS record access. This means ZoneWatcher cannot integrate directly with Network Solutions to pull your DNS records from their systems.
However, this doesn't prevent you from monitoring your Network Solutions-hosted domains! ZoneWatcher provides a solution through the Public DNS provider, which works by querying the public DNS infrastructure just like end users do.
Using the Public DNS Provider
The Public DNS provider is specifically designed for DNS providers like Network Solutions that don't have APIs. Instead of pulling records directly from the provider, ZoneWatcher queries the public DNS system to discover and monitor your records.
This method is just as effective for monitoring your DNS records and detecting changes. The setup is more manual than API-based providers since you'll need to specify your domain name, but ZoneWatcher will automatically discover the most common DNS records for you.
To get started, create a new Public DNS provider on ZoneWatcher by giving it a descriptive name (e.g., "Network Solutions - Production Domains").
How It Works
When you add a zone using the Public DNS provider, ZoneWatcher will:
- Automatically discover the most common 5,000 DNS records for your domain
- Find records that have had SSL/TLS certificates issued in the past
- Query the public DNS infrastructure that Network Solutions uses to serve your records
- Monitor all discovered records for changes
The first sync may take a few minutes as the auto-discovery process runs. Subsequent syncs will be much faster as we only check for changes to known records.
Zone File Import (Optional)
If you have access to your zone files from Network Solutions, you can upload them when creating a new zone with the Public DNS provider. This ensures ZoneWatcher knows about all your DNS records from day one, including any custom or unusual records that might not be discovered during the standard auto-discovery process.
Network Solutions customers can typically export their zone files (in standard .txt or .zone format) from their DNS management interface. Simply upload this file during zone creation for comprehensive monitoring coverage.
Adding Missing Records
If you have unique DNS records that weren't discovered automatically or included in your zone file, you can add them manually using the "Add Missing Records" button. Simply specify the record name and the record types you want to monitor.
This flexibility ensures that even the most complex Network Solutions DNS configurations can be fully monitored by ZoneWatcher.
Complete Setup Guide
For detailed step-by-step instructions on setting up and using the Public DNS provider, including screenshots and examples, please refer to our comprehensive Public DNS Provider help article.
That guide covers:
- Creating your Public DNS provider
- Adding your zones
- Understanding the first sync process
- Adding missing records manually
- Supported record types