What is SRV Record? Structure and how to create SRV Record

 SRV Record is one of the important DNS record types that helps direct network traffic to specific services on a server. Understanding SRV Record not only helps optimize the performance of online services but also ensures system stability and security. So to better understand SRV Record, let's   learn with TipsMake right through the article below.

What is SRV Record?

An SRV Record is a type of DNS record that identifies the location of specific services running on a server. It acts as a 'map' that helps users and applications find the IP address of the server providing the service they need to connect to. This is especially useful in complex environments with many services or when a service is deployed on many different servers.

What is SRV Record?

An SRV Record is essentially a DNS record, but it is not a simple record like an A Record or CNAME. Instead, it provides more detailed information about the service it represents.

Structure of SRV Record

To better understand SRV Record, we need to delve into its structure and components. The structure of SRV Record usually includes the following fields:

1. Service Name: This is the name of the service that the SRV Record represents. Typically, the service name will start with an "_".
2. Protocol: Like the service name, this field also starts with an "_". It specifies the protocol the service uses.
3. Server Location: This is the domain name or IP address of the server where the service is running.
4. Port: The port on which the service is listening for connections from applications or users.
5. Priority: This value indicates the priority of the SRV Record. If there are multiple SRV Records for the same service, the lower value will take precedence.
6. Weight: If there are multiple SRV Records with the same priority, the weight value determines the proportion allocated to each record.

How to create basic SRV Record

Creating an SRV Record is not overly complicated, but there are some basic steps that need to be followed to ensure that the record is configured correctly and works as expected.

Here is a step-by-step guide to create an SRV Record:

1. Log in to your DNS control panel: Go to the DNS service you are using (this could be your web hosting provider or a standalone DNS service).
2. Select Domain Name: Select the domain name you want to add SRV Record to.
3. Create new record: Find the option to add a new record and select the record type as SRV.
4. Fill in the required information : Enter information such as service name, protocol, server location, port, priority and weight.
5. Save and Test: Once done, save the changes and test whether the SRV Record has been configured successfully using a DNS test tool.

After creating an SRV Record, it is important to check its correctness. You can use tools like dig or nslookup to verify that the SRV Record was created successfully and responds correctly to requests.

You just need to execute a command like this:

dig _sip._tcp.example.com SRV

How to keep SRV Record running smoothly?

Here are some methods and strategies to ensure that your SRV Record is working properly.

Optimize priorities and weights

1. Priority: If there are multiple SRV Records for the same service, make sure you set the priority appropriately. Lower values ​​will be processed first.
2. Weighting: If you have multiple servers providing the same service, you can use weighting to distribute traffic between the servers. The server with the higher weight will get more connections.

Monitor and maintain SRV Record

Regularly check the health of the servers and services that SRV Records specify. If you discover that a server is down or has performance issues, promptly update the SRV Record to redirect traffic to another server.

Use monitoring tools

Monitoring tools can help you keep track of the performance and health of your SRV Record. These tools will send alerts when any issues occur, allowing you to take timely action before they impact end users.

Some common errors when creating SRV Record

Here are some common errors when creating SRV Record:

Incorrect record structure

Incorrect syntax: SRV records must begin with an underscore (_) followed by the service name, for example: _imaps._tcp.mydomain.com. If this syntax is not followed, the record will not work.

Missing necessary information

Missing port or hostname: The SRV record must contain complete information such as port, hostname (target), and other parameters such as priority and weight.

Incorrect IP address

Pointing to wrong IP: Make sure the IP address of the server providing the service is correct.

DNS changes not updated

DNS Update Time: After creating or modifying an SRV record, it can take time for the change to be updated across the entire Internet. Check back after a period of time to make sure the record has been applied.

Problem with Nameserver

Nameserver down: Check if the name server is working properly. If the name server is down, it may prevent access to the SRV 5 record.

Server configuration error

Incorrect Server Configuration: Make sure your server is properly configured to handle requests from SRV records. This includes checking firewall settings and access permissions.

Conclude

SRV Record is an indispensable part of the DNS system, providing the ability to direct traffic to specific services on the server. Understanding SRV Record not only helps you optimize service performance but also ensures system stability and security. Hopefully this information will be useful for you in managing your network services.

Micah Soto

Update 25 February 2025