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Understand the two controls
A VPC DHCP option set provides network configuration to instances, including DNS servers and a domain name. It can also specify NTP servers, NetBIOS name servers and node type, and an optional IPv6 preferred lease time. A VPC can have only one associated option set at a time, though one set can be shared by multiple VPCs. AWS documents a default IPv6 preferred lease time of 140 seconds when no value is configured; this is a lease setting, not a DNS performance measure. AWS: DHCP option set concepts
VPC DNS attributes are separate switches. The DHCP set tells clients which resolver information to use; the attributes control whether the VPC supports Amazon-provided DNS resolution and DNS hostname assignment. Changing one does not automatically configure the other.
Choose the resolver and name-resolution flow
| Decision | What to determine |
|---|---|
| Resolver supplied to clients | Choose AmazonProvidedDNS or custom DNS servers. AWS cautions that using AmazonProvidedDNS and custom name servers together may produce unexpected behavior. Do not treat the list as a guaranteed ordered fallback; establish which resolver is expected to answer each name. |
| Private names | Decide which resolver is authoritative for workload names and how clients reach it. If using custom DNS instead of AmazonProvidedDNS, AWS says the custom servers must resolve the hostnames workloads need. Verify reachability and forwarding or other resolution paths in your own network design; AWS does not provide them automatically. |
| Domain suffix | Choose a domain name you control if clients need a DHCP-provided domain or search suffix. AWS says, “Only use domain names that you fully control.” Operating systems may handle multiple space-separated domain names differently, so use one controlled domain unless your client fleet has been validated for another arrangement. AWS: Work with DHCP option sets |
| VPC DNS features | Decide whether instances need Amazon-provided private DNS hostnames, public DNS hostnames, Route 53 private hosted zones, or interface endpoint private DNS. These requirements determine the DNS attributes to enable, independently of the DHCP resolver choice. |
AWS documents limits of up to four IPv4 DNS servers, or three IPv4 servers plus AmazonProvidedDNS, and up to four IPv6 DNS servers. An operating system may support fewer, so check its resolver limits before specifying a long list. AWS: Work with DHCP option sets
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Inspect the current VPC configuration
Before changing settings, record the VPC’s associated DHCP option set and its DNS attributes. The AWS CLI provides describe-dhcp-options for option-set details and describe-vpc-attribute for DNS attribute inspection. Use the AWS documentation for the command syntax and required identifiers: DHCP option sets and DNS attributes for your VPC.
Create and associate a DHCP option set
- Choose the values. Specify the intended DNS servers and, if needed, a domain name. Confirm custom resolvers are reachable from the instances and can resolve the private and public names your workloads require.
- Create a new option set. In the AWS Management Console, open VPCs, go to DHCP option sets, and choose Create DHCP option set. Enter the values and create it. The domain name is optional. AWS states, “After you create a DHCP option set, you can’t modify it.” For a later change, create a replacement set rather than attempting to edit the existing one. AWS: Work with DHCP option sets
- Associate it with the VPC. In the console, go to VPCs, select the VPC, choose Actions > Edit VPC settings, select the DHCP options set, and save. The CLI operation is
associate-dhcp-options; see AWS’s association instructions.
One DHCP option set can serve multiple VPCs, but associating a different set with a VPC replaces its previous association. AWS describes the per-VPC association and option-set workflow in its DHCP option set documentation.
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Enable the VPC DNS attributes your workloads need
In the console, open VPCs, select the VPC, choose Actions > Edit VPC settings, set the DNS attributes needed for the environment, and save. AWS also documents modify-vpc-attribute for changing them. Attribute names and behavior are described in DNS attributes for your VPC and the console/CLI steps in View and update DNS attributes for your VPC.
Enable both enableDnsSupport and enableDnsHostnames when you need public DNS hostnames for eligible instances with public addresses, Route 53 private hosted zone resolution, or interface endpoint private DNS. If either attribute is false, the Route 53 Resolver cannot resolve Amazon-provided private DNS hostnames, and public DNS hostnames are not assigned. AWS: DNS attributes for your VPC
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Account for instance lease renewal
Associating a DHCP option set does not force every running instance to adopt it immediately. AWS says changed settings take effect after the DHCP lease renews, which may take a few hours depending on renewal frequency. Where appropriate, request lease renewal from the instance operating system; otherwise allow renewal to occur. Newly launched instances also obtain settings through DHCP. AWS: Work with DHCP option sets
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Verify resolution from an instance
- Check the instance’s effective resolver configuration and domain/search suffix after the lease has renewed. Confirm it reflects the intended DHCP option set rather than relying only on the VPC console association.
- Test resolution for the exact private names your workloads use, then test public names if required. This distinguishes a client receiving the wrong resolver from a resolver lacking the necessary records or forwarding path.
- For public hostname, private hosted zone, or interface endpoint private DNS issues, verify both VPC DNS attributes as well as the client’s resolver configuration.
- If results are stale, confirm lease renewal and repeat the checks before changing unrelated DNS settings.
Troubleshoot common failures
- Instances cannot resolve names: Check that a DHCP option set is associated, that it supplies a usable DNS server, and that the chosen server can resolve the required names. AWS says omitting the DHCP option set disables domain name resolution.
- Internet access fails in a VPC with an internet gateway: AWS warns that the DHCP domain-name-servers setting needs an appropriate DNS server; otherwise instances may lack DNS access and internet access will be disabled. AWS: Work with DHCP option sets
- Amazon-provided private DNS or public hostnames do not work: Inspect both
enableDnsSupportandenableDnsHostnames; DHCP association alone does not enable these behaviors. - Only some instances show the change: Compare their effective DHCP lease and resolver settings. Running instances may not have renewed yet.
- Custom names resolve inconsistently across operating systems: Check each OS’s handling of domain suffixes and supported resolver count. Prefer one controlled domain and a resolver design tested on the actual client mix.
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