Tutorial / Cram Notes
Before proceeding, ensure that:
- You have an existing Amazon Route 53 private hosted zone.
- The accounts with which you intend to share the hosted zone are part of your AWS Organizations.
- You have the necessary permissions to create resource shares in AWS RAM.
Step 1: Enable Sharing with AWS RAM
- Go to the AWS RAM console.
- If you’re new to AWS RAM, you may need to click “Get Started” to enable sharing within your account.
- Once enabled, choose “Create a Resource Share” from the “Resource Shares” section.
Step 2: Configure the Resource Share
- Give your resource share a name that’s easy to recognize and describes the DNS resources it contains.
- Under “Resource Types,” select “Route 53: Hosted Zone.”
- In the list of available private hosted zones, select the checkbox for the zone you wish to share.
- Click “Next.”
Step 3: Select Accounts to Share With
- On the “Principals” page, specify the AWS accounts with which you want to share your private hosted zone.
- You can add accounts by their account ID or organize your accounts into groups within AWS Organizations and share with the entire group.
- Once you’ve specified the AWS accounts, click “Next.”
Step 4: Set Permissions
- Set the level of permission you want to grant to the shared accounts – whether they can only associate VPCs with the hosted zone or also manage records.
- If you’re unsure about which permissions are needed, start with the least privilege necessary.
- Click “Next.”
Step 5: Review and Create the Resource Share
- Review the details of your resource share.
- Check your configurations and ensure that you’ve selected the correct hosted zone and accounts.
- Click “Create resource share.”
Step 6: Associate Shared Hosted Zones with VPCs
- In the accepting accounts, there will be a pending invitation to join the resource share.
- Go to the AWS RAM console in each accepting account and accept the invitation.
- Once accepted, the shared private hosted zone will be available in the Route 53 dashboard.
- To associate a VPC with the shared hosted zone, go to the Route 53 dashboard and select “Hosted zones.”
- Find the shared hosted zone and select “Associate VPC” from the “Actions” dropdown.
- Specify the VPC you wish to associate with the hosted zone and the region it resides in.
Ensuring DNS Resolution Works
After associating the necessary VPCs to the shared hosted zone, DNS queries within those VPCs for domain names within the shared hosted zone should resolve correctly. It’s important to test this by executing DNS resolution queries from within the VPCs.
Monitoring and Logging
To ensure the smooth operation of your shared DNS services, set up monitoring and logging using Amazon CloudWatch and AWS CloudTrail. These AWS services provide you with insight into the status of your DNS queries and the audit trail of changes to your DNS configurations.
By following these steps, you can efficiently share DNS services between AWS accounts using AWS RAM. This approach enables better collaboration and centralized management within your organization, ensuring streamlined network administration and access to critical DNS configurations. Remember to periodically review and update your resource shares and permissions to maintain security and efficiency.
Practice Test with Explanation
True or False: AWS Resource Access Manager (RAM) allows you to share your AWS resources with any AWS account or through AWS Organizations.
- True
AWS RAM lets you share specified AWS resources that you own with other AWS accounts or within your organization created in AWS Organizations.
In the context of DNS services, which AWS service can be shared across accounts using AWS RAM?
- A) Amazon Route 53 Resolver rules
- B) Amazon Route 53 Health Checks
- C) Amazon VPCs
- D) AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) Roles
A) Amazon Route 53 Resolver rules
Amazon Route 53 Resolver rules can be shared across accounts using AWS RAM to allow for centralized DNS management.
True or False: You can share Amazon Route 53 hosted zones with AWS RAM.
- False
AWS RAM cannot be used to share Amazon Route 53 hosted zones. Hosted zones are managed in the account they were created in and can use other mechanisms such as creating Resource Record Sets that point to resources in other accounts.
Which IAM permission is required to share resources using AWS RAM?
- A) ram:CreateResourceShare
- B) ram:ShareResource
- C) ram:AllowResourceShare
- D) ram:EnableSharingWithAwsOrganization
A) ram:CreateResourceShare
The ram:CreateResourceShare permission allows an IAM user to create a resource share in AWS RAM.
What is the primary benefit of using AWS RAM for DNS services?
- A) Cost savings on traffic
- B) Centralized management of DNS rules
- C) Automatic DNS failover
- D) Improved DNS resolution speed
B) Centralized management of DNS rules
AWS RAM helps in centralized management of DNS services such as Resolver rules, allowing for consolidated and streamlined administration across multiple accounts.
True or False: AWS RAM supports sharing of AWS services across different AWS Regions.
- False
AWS RAM does not support the sharing of resources across AWS Regions. Resources can only be shared within the same AWS Region.
How can you monitor which AWS accounts are participating in your shared AWS RAM resources?
- A) CloudTrail
- B) AWS RAM Console
- C) AWS Config
- D) Amazon CloudWatch
B) AWS RAM Console
You can monitor which AWS accounts are participating in sharing your RAM resources directly through the AWS RAM console.
Which AWS service allows you to automate the creation and management of shared resources in AWS RAM?
- A) AWS CloudFormation
- B) AWS Lambda
- C) Amazon EC2 Auto Scaling
- D) AWS Systems Manager
A) AWS CloudFormation
AWS CloudFormation allows you to automate the setup of AWS RAM and specify shared resources in your templates.
True or False: You can use AWS RAM to share subnets with other AWS accounts.
- False
AWS RAM does not support sharing subnets directly. However, you can share entire VPCs using AWS Resource Access Manager.
When using AWS RAM to share a DNS service, the consumer accounts need to modify their VPC settings manually to take advantage of the shared service.
- A) True
- B) False
B) False
When a DNS service such as a Route 53 Resolver rule is shared and accepted by a consumer account, the associated VPCs can automatically use the shared service without manual changes.
To share a custom DNS resolver rule using AWS RAM, which pre-requisite should be satisfied?
- A) Enable sharing within your AWS Organization
- B) Activate AWS Cost Explorer
- C) Obtain approval from AWS Support
- D) Create an IAM policy allowing sharing
A) Enable sharing within your AWS Organization
Enabling sharing within your AWS Organization is a prerequisite for sharing resources with other accounts within the organization using AWS RAM.
AWS RAM is used only for DNS services sharing.
- A) True
- B) False
B) False
AWS RAM isn’t limited to DNS services; it can be used to share many types of resources, such as VPCs, subnets, and transit gateways, with other AWS accounts or within your organization.
Interview Questions
What is AWS RAM and how does it facilitate sharing DNS services between accounts?
AWS Resource Access Manager (RAM) is a service that enables you to easily and securely share AWS resources with any AWS account or within your AWS Organization. It simplifies the process of sharing resources like subnets, Transit Gateways, and Route 53 resolver rules. By using AWS RAM to share DNS services, you can maintain a centralized DNS management in one account and seamlessly share it with other accounts, avoiding duplication of effort and the potential for configuration errors.
Can you share a private hosted zone with another account using AWS RAM?
No, AWS RAM does not support sharing of Route 53 private hosted zones. To share DNS services for private hosted zones, you need to associate the VPC from the account with the private hosted zone that you have in another account.
What are some DNS resources that you can share using AWS RAM?
DNS resources that you can share via AWS RAM include Amazon Route 53 Resolver rules, query logging configurations, and resolver endpoints. This allows you to centralize the management of DNS resolution rules and ensure consistent implementation across multiple accounts.
How do you share a Route 53 Resolver rule with another AWS account?
To share a Route 53 Resolver rule with another AWS account, you need to create a resource share through AWS RAM. You specify the Resolver rule and the account(s) you want to share it with. The targeted accounts will then receive an invitation to join the resource share, and upon acceptance, they will be able to use the shared Resolver rule for DNS resolution within their VPCs.
What prerequisites must be met before you can share DNS services using AWS RAM?
Before sharing DNS services using AWS RAM, you need to ensure that the accounts are part of the same AWS Organization or that they have an existing account relationship. You must also have the necessary permissions to create resource shares in AWS RAM. Additionally, the recipient accounts must have the appropriate permissions to use the shared resources.
How does sharing DNS services between accounts improve network management in AWS?
Sharing DNS services between accounts centralizes the management of DNS, reduces replication of efforts across accounts, and ensures consistency in DNS resolution policies. It simplifies governance and can potentially reduce costs by eliminating the need for duplicate resources. It also streamlines collaboration and adherence to best practices within an organization.
What actions can you perform once you accept a shared DNS service in AWS RAM?
Once a shared DNS service is accepted in AWS RAM, the recipient account can associate it with their VPCs, create associations to Resolver endpoints, and configure query logging as needed. The shared service becomes available for resolving DNS queries or handling DNS management as per the settings defined by the resource owner.
Can you modify a DNS service that has been shared with you via AWS RAM?
No, as a participant in a resource share, you are not able to modify the shared DNS service. All management and configuration tasks remain with the resource owner—the account that shared the resource in the first place. Your ability is limited to using the shared resource within the permissions granted to you.
Is it possible to share DNS services with external AWS accounts outside of my organization through AWS RAM?
Yes, it is possible to share DNS services with external AWS accounts outside of your organization. You would need to create a resource share and specify the external AWS account ID to share it with. The external accounts will receive an invitation that they must accept to use the shared resources.
How do you monitor the usage of your shared DNS services among other AWS accounts?
Monitoring of shared DNS services can be achieved through logging and monitoring tools such as Amazon CloudWatch and AWS CloudTrail. These tools provide visibility into how the shared services are being used by the participant accounts. CloudTrail, for instance, logs API calls to show resource access and changes, while CloudWatch monitors resource utilization and operational health.
What are the steps to remove an account from a resource share in AWS RAM?
To remove an account from a resource share, go to the AWS RAM console, select the resource share, then under the “Shared with” tab, find the account you want to remove and click on “Disassociate”. After this, the account will no longer have access to the shared resources.
Can you restrict DNS service sharing to specific resources within an AWS account using AWS RAM?
Yes, through AWS RAM, you can create resource shares that include only the specific DNS resources you want to share, such as specific Resolver rules or endpoints. You do not have to share all DNS services available in your account; sharing can be finely controlled based on the needs and the level of access you want to grant to the other accounts.
Great tutorial on how to share DNS services through AWS RAM!
Awesome post! Can anyone explain how AWS RAM helps in multi-account DNS management?
What are the key benefits of using AWS RAM for DNS sharing over traditional methods?
Thanks for the detailed guide, very helpful!
Has anyone faced any limitations with AWS RAM in terms of DNS services?
Appreciate the thorough information on this topic!
For those using AWS RAM for DNS, what are some best practices?
Perfect for my exam prep! Thanks a lot.