ANAME Records on Cloudflare

Published: 2023-04-01
Updated: 2023-04-01

Introduction

In the realm of DNS management, Cloudflare provides users with powerful tools to enhance domain performance and flexibility. While Cloudflare officially supports ANAME (Alias) records for domain mapping, users can achieve similar outcomes using CNAME records, thanks to Cloudflare’s default CNAME flattening feature. In this blog post, we’ll explore how users can leverage CNAME flattening on Cloudflare instead of explicitly using ANAME records.

Understanding ANAME Records and CNAME Flattening

ANAME records, also known as Alias records, allow users to map a domain or subdomain to another domain without the need for specifying an IP address. On Cloudflare, CNAME flattening is a default feature that resolves CNAME records at the authoritative DNS server, simplifying the DNS resolution process.

The Power of CNAMEs and CNAME Flattening

While ANAME records are officially supported by Cloudflare, users can achieve similar results using CNAME records, taking advantage of CNAME flattening. This allows for a more straightforward and scalable solution, especially for users who prefer the simplicity of managing DNS configurations without the need for IP addresses.

Leveraging CNAME Flattening on Cloudflare

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Log in to Cloudflare:
  • Access your Cloudflare account and navigate to the DNS settings for your domain.
  1. Add a new DNS Record:
  • Create a new DNS record for the subdomain you want to map.
  1. Set Record Type to CNAME:
  • Choose the record type as CNAME.
  1. Enter the Destination:
  • Specify the target domain or subdomain to which the CNAME record should point.
  1. Utilize CNAME Flattening:
  • Cloudflare automatically flattens CNAMEs by default, resolving them at Cloudflare’s authoritative DNS servers.
  1. Verify the Configuration:
  • Ensure that the CNAME record is propagated and accurately directs traffic to the intended destination.

Note: CNAME Flattening and Enterprise Plan

CNAME flattening is enabled by default for all Cloudflare users, including those on free and lower-tier plans. Users with an enterprise-level subscription who have CNAME flattening disabled may need to re-enable it for Alias records to work properly.

Conclusion

By leveraging CNAME flattening on Cloudflare, users can achieve the benefits of ANAME-like functionality without explicitly using ANAME records. This approach simplifies DNS management, offering a user-friendly solution for mapping domains and subdomains without the complexities associated with traditional A-records.

Whether you’re a small website owner or managing a larger web infrastructure, Cloudflare’s CNAME flattening provides a versatile and convenient way to handle domain mapping and DNS configurations.