Cross-Account Route 53

Overview

This document provides a comprehensive guide to implementing cross-account Route 53 configurations for managing subdomains across different AWS accounts.

Core Concepts

Hosted Zones

A hosted zone in Route 53 serves as a collection of records that define how traffic should be routed for a specific domain. Each hosted zone contains essential records:

• NS (Name Server) records

• SOA (Start of Authority) record

Cross-Account Structure

The cross-account setup involves:

• Parent DNS Account: Manages the primary domain (e.g., example.com)

• Child Accounts: Manage subdomains (e.g., dev.example.com, test.example.com)

Implementation Guide

Parent Account Configuration

1. Establish the primary hosted zone in the parent DNS account

2. Verify the presence of default NS and SOA records

3. Prepare for subdomain delegation

Subdomain Creation Process

1. In the child account (e.g., development):

   • Create a new private hosted zone

   • Specify the subdomain name (e.g., dev.example.com)

   • Record the automatically generated NS records

1. In the parent DNS account:

• Access the primary domain's hosted zone

• Create a new NS record set

• Configure it for the subdomain

• Input the NS records from the child account

1. Repeat this process for additional subdomains in other accounts

Best Practices

Security Considerations

• Implement principle of least privilege

• Maintain separate permissions for each environment

• Regular audit of DNS configurations

Management Guidelines

• Centralize DNS observation in the parent account

• Document NS record changes

• Maintain clear naming conventions for subdomains

Architecture Benefits

Organizational Advantages

• Improved security through account separation

• Enhanced visibility of DNS management

• Granular access control

Operational Benefits

• Environment-specific monitoring

• Simplified permissions management

• Reduced risk of cross-environment conflicts

Common Use Cases

• Development environments (dev.example.com)

• Testing environments (test.example.com)

• Staging environments (staging.example.com)

• Regional deployments (us-east.example.com)

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

• NS record propagation delays

• Incorrect NS record configuration

• Permission-related issues

Resolution Steps

1. Verify NS records in both parent and child accounts

2. Confirm proper hosted zone configuration

3. Check IAM permissions in relevant accounts

Conclusion

Cross-account Route 53 configuration provides a robust solution for managing complex DNS requirements across multiple AWS accounts. This approach enables organizations to maintain security and operational efficiency while providing the necessary flexibility for different environments.