At Boss IT, one of the thing we do is help businesses and homeowners like you navigate the confusing world of web hosting, security, and website performance.

One of the most powerful tools we use is Cloudflare and its completely free and here’s why you should consider it:

What Cloudflare Does for You

1. Faster Website:
   Cloudflare makes your website load faster by storing content in different locations around the world. That means happier visitors who stick around longer.

2. Free SSL (Security):
   Cloudflare secures your website with a free SSL certificate. This means your website is safe for visitors, without paying for expensive certificates.

3. Better Security:
   Cloudflare protects your website from hackers and bots. It’s like a security guard for your site, keeping it safe without extra cost.

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Full Technical Rundown of Today’s IT Work (Including Domain Redirect and DNS Issues)

At Boss IT, we’ve been working on streamlining a client’s web infrastructure by migrating DNS services and ensuring their website is faster and more secure. Here’s a breakdown of what was done today, including the com.au to net.au redirect, DNS migration, and the PowerShell script used for validation, as well as the pending Exchange email setup:

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Domain Redirect (com.au to net.au)

1. Domain Setup:

   • The client had two domains: com.au (used solely for branding purposes) and net.au (the primary domain).

   • The goal is to redirect all traffic from com.au to net.au, so visitors are automatically sent to the main website.

2. Redirect Configuration:

   • We migrated DNS management for com.au to Cloudflare and set up 301 redirects for com.au to net.au using Cloudflare’s page rules.

   • Since com.au didn’t have a website or email services*, the redirect is primarily for branding, ensuring that any traffic or links to com.au are automatically directed to net.au.

3. Challenges with Missing A/AAAA Records:

   • We encountered an issue because com.au didn’t have any A or AAAA records, obviously*, and these are required for Cloudflare’s proxying service to route the traffic correctly.

   • To resolve this, we used wildcard DNS records (*.com.au) to ensure that all traffic for com.au is routed through Cloudflare and properly redirected to net.au.

 

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Cloudflare DNS and SSL Configuration for com.au

1. DNS Migration to Cloudflare:

   • We successfully migrated the DNS management for com.au to Cloudflare, centralizing control and improving website performance.

   • DNS records were updated to direct com.au traffic to net.au, and all traffic was routed via Cloudflare’s network for enhanced speed and security.

2. SSL Setup for com.au:

   • We enabled free SSL certificates via Cloudflare for com.au, ensuring that website traffic is secure with HTTPS encryption.

   • Always Use HTTPS was configured to automatically redirect all HTTP traffic to the HTTPS version.

3. Security Configuration for com.au:

   • Cloudflare’s DDoS protection and firewall rules were implemented to secure com.au and ensure it stays protected from malicious traffic.

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PowerShell Script for DNS Validation (We obviously used https://dnschecker.org as well, but code is more fun)

1. PowerShell DNS Validation:

   • We used a PowerShell script to validate the DNS records and ensure the DNS propagation was happening correctly.

   • The script specifically checked for:

     • NS records: To confirm that Cloudflare’s nameservers were properly set up.

     • A records: To ensure Cloudflare was correctly routing traffic to the website.

     • MX records: To check if email traffic was correctly routed to the Exchange server.

   Example PowerShell Command:

   powershell

   Copy

   # PowerShell command to check NS records for com.au and net.au
nslookup -type=ns com.au
nslookup -type=ns net.au
   

   • The script confirmed that Cloudflare’s nameservers were active for both domains, and it will help us track DNS propagation for the NET.AU Domain when we migrate that across later.

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Exchange Email Setup and DNS Migration for net.au (Pending)

1. Repeat the Process for net.au:
   The steps we followed for com.au will need to be repeated for net.au. However, since net.au has live services such as Exchange (email) and an active website hosted, we need to be extra cautious to ensure everything continues to function correctly.

2. Exchange Email Setup:

   • MX records will need to be updated for net.au, but we’ll keep the Exchange service hosted by the domain provider, as they host the Exchange Premium service. So essentially pointing back at them.

   • As with com.au, we’ll update the MX records in Cloudflare to reflect the correct Exchange settings. Since net.au uses Exchange, we’ll avoid disrupting the live email service by carefully updating the MX records at off-peak hours.

3. Website and SSL:

   • net.au has an active website (currently hosted), so it will remain on WordPress cPanel hosting, but we’ll be managing DNS and SSL for net.au through Cloudflare.

   • We’ll ensure free SSL certificates are set up in Cloudflare for net.au so that the website remains secure with HTTPS encryption, even though it is still hosted on CD.

4. Pending Tasks for net.au:

   • DNS migration for net.au will follow the same steps as com.au, but with extra care due to live services. We will use wildcard DNS records for the domain and Cloudflare’s proxying services to manage DNS and SSL while keeping Exchange and the website intact on Domain Host.

   • After the MX records are updated and DNS is fully propagated, we will test email routing and confirm that the website continues to operate as expected.