GeoDNS
The DNS answer can depend on where the resolver is.
A single A or AAAA record sends every resolver to the same endpoint. Applications that run in more than one region need the answer to change with location, ASN or subnet.
Cloud DNS GeoDNS returns different records by coordinates, continent, country, ASN, IP or subnet. Health checks can remove endpoints that are down from eligible answers.
Why teams use Aptranet
What GeoDNS looks like on this network.
Cloud DNS answers on 210+ Anycast servers, with GeoDNS, health checks and a one-second minimum TTL for change.
More than country steering
Steer by coordinates, continent, country, ASN, IP or subnet — not a single geo bucket.
210+ Anycast DNS servers
Resolvers reach a nearby authoritative server, including during traffic events.
Health-aware answers
Unhealthy endpoints can be taken out of the eligible GeoDNS set.
How to set it up
A cutover you can validate before DNS moves.
Create the Cloud DNS configuration, prove it on an Aptranet hostname, then point production DNS when the path looks correct.
- 1Host the zone on Cloud DNS
Delegate the domain to Aptranet Anycast nameservers.
- 2Define location policies
Map continents, countries, ASNs or subnets to application endpoints.
- 3Attach health checks
Remove non-responsive endpoints from the answers resolvers receive.
- 4Use a low TTL while you iterate
Cloud DNS supports a one-second minimum TTL for planned changes.
Outcomes
What changes once the hostname is on Aptranet.
- Resolvers can receive a nearby endpoint
- ASN and subnet splits are available
- Unhealthy targets can be excluded
- Policy changes propagate quickly
Keep reading
Related pages
More DNS use cases on the same Cloud DNS footprint.
Frequently Asked Questions
Authoritative DNS sees the recursive resolver. GeoDNS uses that view, which is usually close to the user but not identical.
Yes. Weighted load balancing and GeoDNS can be used together depending on the record set.
No. GeoDNS chooses which endpoint name or address is returned. Application anycast is a separate routing design.
Subnet and IP policies support finer splits than continent or country maps.