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Question

Subdomain Pointing To Multiple IPs

Aug 18, 2017 10:07AM PDT

We have three internet services (WANs) terminated on one router. Router does load balancing as well as failover management. Some of our clients use RDP(port 3389) and remote login on daily basis. Those are all business users and they use "subdomain.mydomain.com" to connect with RDP session. There is A record in DNS Zone for "subdomain.mydomain.com" which is pointing to static IP of one WAN.

Considering this scenario, when one WAN (with the static IP that was set in above subdomain) fails then users cannot login. During such case we manually change A record and update the IP for the subdomain.

Someone suggested to create three A records for the same subdomain which are pointing to different IPs. Is this going to work when one ISP fails? Any other issues with this arrangement?

If you have any other better suggestion then please include in your replies.

Discussion is locked

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Answer
The first question should be an easy no.
Aug 18, 2017 10:44AM PDT

If an ISP fails, it takes out whatever server is on its system. As to other issues the question is too broad so I decline to enter the tar pit question.

Here's a trap some IT staffers fall for. They worry about ISP failures and incur cost in both backup systems and lost time debating it all. As the tech lead at the office I shut down the discussion and redirect the IT to get on more pressing matters.

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A second thought.
Aug 18, 2017 11:34AM PDT

That failure should be the rare event. If it's happening often the CTO/CIO needs to get involved and call in the providers to see if they can fix what is causing it.