Manually Transferring SystemDNS Zones

When you import a domain into Storefront, the domain's nameservers are not changed. If the domain was using OpenSRS SystemDNS nameservers, it keeps those after import, which means your customer can see the domain in their Storefront account, but cannot edit its DNS records there. DNS management for SystemDNS domains still happens in the RCP.

This article explains how to manually migrate a domain's DNS zone from OpenSRS SystemDNS to Storefront DNS, so your customers can manage their own DNS records directly in the Storefront customer portal.

SystemDNS, Storefront DNS, and what changes for your customers

OpenSRS SystemDNS and Storefront DNS are two separate DNS platforms. Which one a domain uses determines where DNS records are managed and who can edit them.

SystemDNS (OpenSRS) — nameservers are ns1.systemdns.com, ns2.systemdns.com, ns3.systemdns.com

. DNS records are managed in the RCP. Customers cannot edit SystemDNS records from within Storefront — they must contact you or you must log in as the customer to make changes on their behalf.

Storefront DNS (Shopco) — nameservers are a.ns.shopco.com, b.ns.shopco.com, c.ns.shopco.com. DNS records are managed in Storefront Manager and the customer-facing Storefront portal. Customers can add, edit, and delete their own DNS records without contacting you.

Switching a domain to Storefront DNS is a two-step process: you recreate the DNS records in Storefront first, then switch the nameservers. Switching nameservers before recreating records causes DNS downtime.

Before you start

You need the complete set of DNS records from the domain's current SystemDNS zone. Gather these before making any changes in Storefront.

You also need:

• The domain already imported into your Storefront (see Importing Domains into Storefront)
• The customer's account accessible in Storefront Manager

Step 1: Retrieve the DNS zone from the RCP

1. Log in to the Reseller Control Panel.
2. Go to the Domains section and search for the domain.
3. Select the domain to open its details.
4. Scroll to the DNS section and note all records — the record type, name, value, and TTL for each. Copy these down or export them before proceeding.

Common record types to look for: A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, TXT, SRV, CAA. Note any SPF or DKIM records in TXT entries — these are critical for email delivery and easy to overlook.

Step 2: Add the DNS records in Storefront

You need to recreate the SystemDNS records in Storefront before switching nameservers. Switching first causes DNS downtime.

1. Log in to Storefront Manager.
2. Go to Customers and select the customer whose domain you're migrating.
3. Click Log in as Customer to open the customer's account in a new tab.
4. Select the domain name.
5. In the DNS Records section, click Add DNS Record.
6. Set the record type, enter the name and value from your SystemDNS zone, and set the TTL.
7. Click Add Record to save.
8. Repeat for each record in the zone.

Take care with MX records, the priority value must match what was set in SystemDNS. Missing or incorrect MX records will break email delivery when the nameserver switch happens.

Step 3: Switch the nameservers

Once all DNS records are recreated and verified in Storefront, switch the domain to Storefront nameservers.

1. Still in the customer's Storefront session (from Step 2), navigate to the Nameservers section on the domain's page.
2. Click Reset to default.
3. Confirm the change.

Storefront updates the nameservers to a.ns.shopco.com, b.ns.shopco.com, c.ns.shopco.com.

DNS propagation typically takes between a few minutes and 48 hours depending on the domain's TTL and resolver caching. The SystemDNS zone continues to resolve until propagation completes, so there should be no service interruption if the records were correctly recreated.

What your customer sees after the switch

Once the nameserver change propagates, the customer can manage all their DNS records directly from their Storefront account without contacting you. They can add, edit, and delete A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, TXT, SRV, and CAA records.

The domain's DNS records appear in their Storefront portal under the domain's details page.

Troubleshooting

The customer's website or email stopped working after the nameserver switch. 

A record is missing or incorrect in the Storefront DNS zone. Log in as the customer in Storefront Manager and compare the current Storefront DNS records against the original SystemDNS zone you copied in Step 1. Add or correct any missing entries. Changes propagate within the DNS TTL window.

The DNS Records section doesn't appear on the domain's page in Storefront. 

The nameserver switch to Storefront DNS must be completed before DNS records become editable in the Storefront customer portal. If the domain is still using SystemDNS nameservers, the DNS Records section will not be shown. Complete the nameserver switch in Step 3 first.

I switched nameservers before recreating the records. 

If DNS is now broken, the fastest fix is to switch the nameservers back to SystemDNS immediately, then start again from Step 2. To revert, log in as the customer in Storefront Manager, go to the domain's Nameservers section, and manually enter the original SystemDNS nameservers. Once the records are recreated correctly in Storefront DNS, switch again.

I'm not sure which records to recreate — there are too many. 

Export the domain list from the RCP in CSV format if available, or work through each record type methodically: start with A records (the domain itself and any subdomains), then MX (email), then CNAME, then TXT (SPF, DKIM, verification records). Leave SRV and CAA for last. Checking email deliverability after the switch is strongly recommended.

Related articles

• Importing Domains into Storefront
• Storefront Nameservers
• Managing Customer Accounts and Domains

Questions? Contact OpenSRS Support.

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