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How DNS Zone File Works

Page 4: Primary and Secondary Name Server

Each domain requires the information of at least two name servers.

The Domain Nameserver will usually set one of the nameserver as Primary Name Server. While the other is set as a Secondary Name Server. In fact the Secondary Name Server is server as a backup.

Actually there is no any difference between Primary Name Server and Secondary Name Server. However the name of Primary Name Server will appear before the Secondary Name Server in the DNS Zone File.

Take the following DNS Zone File as an example:

Nameserver zone file

In this example:

  • ns1.ServerName.com is the Primary Name Server, and
  • ns2.ServerName.com is the Secondary Name Server

However if we changed the DNS Zone File as follow:

Primary secondary name server

Then:

  • ns2.ServerName.com is the Primary Name Server, and
  • ns1.ServerName.com is the Secondary Name Server

We will discuss DNS Zone File in more details in next chapter of this tutorial series.

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