DNS Resolution Issue

vipulahir7
FREE

2 months ago

Problem: Backend deployed on Railway works fine, but some users can't access it due to DNS resolution failures with their ISP's DNS servers.

Root Cause:

  • Railway's domain doesn't resolve on certain ISP DNS servers

  • DNS propagation issues in some regions

  • Some ISPs block/slow certain cloud provider domains

Current Workaround: Users switching to Google DNS (8.8.8.8) fixes it, but can't ask all users to change DNS settings.

For Example: https://codeeditor-proxy-backend.up.railway.app
try to hit this endpoint if it says API is running it's fine if it's not reachable change your dns setting to 8.8.8.8 or dns.google and it will work.
Now, i can't tell every user to change their dns setting.
If anyone has faced this issue give me the solution

Solved$10 Bounty

16 Replies

2 months ago

Which ISPs and which DNS servers? You can also consider using a custom domain instead.


smolpaw
HOBBYTop 5% Contributor

2 months ago

Currently your service is using the railway's beta "Metal Edge" network. dns resolution ends in "66.33.22.x"
Go to your service Settings -> Public Networking click the circle button when hovered says "Downgrade edge network".
Railway currently by default uses their "beta" Metal edge network which has some dns and routing issues which i have personally faced.

When you downgrade you switch back to GCP's network on which i am sure you will not face such problems.
Alternatively you could use cloudflare as a reverse proxy and point your custom domain to your railway service and achieve a similar result while still being on the Metal edge network.

Let me know if you need any further help.


smolpaw

Currently your service is using the railway's beta "Metal Edge" network. dns resolution ends in "66.33.22.x"Go to your service Settings -> Public Networking click the circle button when hovered says "Downgrade edge network".Railway currently by default uses their "beta" Metal edge network which has some dns and routing issues which i have personally faced.When you downgrade you switch back to GCP's network on which i am sure you will not face such problems.Alternatively you could use cloudflare as a reverse proxy and point your custom domain to your railway service and achieve a similar result while still being on the Metal edge network.Let me know if you need any further help.

vipulahir7
FREE

2 months ago

I have downgraded the version but it seems there's still problem.

This cmd logs should explain better:
C:\Users\vipul>nslookup codeeditor-proxy-backend.up.railway.app

Server: UnKnown

Address: 192.168.15.217

*** UnKnown can't find codeeditor-proxy-backend.up.railway.app: Query refused

C:\Users\vipul>nslookup codeeditor-proxy-backend.up.railway.app 8.8.8.8

Server: dns.google

Address: 8.8.8.8

Non-authoritative answer:

Name: trestle.proxy.rlwy.net

Address: 35.213.168.149

Aliases: codeeditor-proxy-backend.up.railway.app

Attachments


2 months ago

It honestly sounds like an issue with the ISPs DNS services rather than something caused by Railway (though I could be wrong!), which ISP is this? And are you able to try a custom domain at all?


smolpaw
HOBBYTop 5% Contributor

2 months ago

You just changed it. give it some time. your system could be caching the previous dns query
try it again tomorrow.


erisa

It honestly sounds like an issue with the ISPs DNS services rather than something caused by Railway (though I could be wrong!), which ISP is this? And are you able to try a custom domain at all?

vipulahir7
FREE

2 months ago

It could be the problem of ISP's DNS (Though less chances of this).
I don't have any custom domain to test it for now.


2 months ago

Which ISP is it though?


erisa

It honestly sounds like an issue with the ISPs DNS services rather than something caused by Railway (though I could be wrong!), which ISP is this? And are you able to try a custom domain at all?

smolpaw
HOBBYTop 5% Contributor

2 months ago

custom domain wouldn't help here. ISP's ban domain for porn, torrents etc and not nobody's website.

It's the underlying dns that matters

You could try it but i doubt it will help.


erisa

Which ISP is it though?

vipulahir7
FREE

2 months ago

I'm currently using JIO, But it's not that all JIO users are facing this issue. So, unable to understand what's the problem here.


smolpaw

custom domain wouldn't help here. ISP's ban domain for porn, torrents etc and not nobody's website.It's the underlying dns that mattersYou could try it but i doubt it will help.

2 months ago

Custom domain helps in a case where an ISP foolishly blocks *.up.railway.app domains when they see abuse on them and think that it will solve their problems with no repercussions (leading to many legit sites that suffer the consequences), and is something that happens routinely with every service that offers these kind of service subdomains for its users. A custom domain may not be blanket blocked in the same way. Enabling Cloudflare or similar proxy may also be required to hide the CNAME even further, depending how their blocks are implemented.


vipulahir7
FREE

2 months ago

At first I thought that it will take some time to propagate to ISP's DNS but it's almost 24 hours now.


erisa

Custom domain helps in a case where an ISP foolishly blocks *.up.railway.app domains when they see abuse on them and think that it will solve their problems with no repercussions (leading to many legit sites that suffer the consequences), and is something that happens routinely with every service that offers these kind of service subdomains for its users. A custom domain may not be blanket blocked in the same way. Enabling Cloudflare or similar proxy may also be required to hide the CNAME even further, depending how their blocks are implemented.

vipulahir7
FREE

2 months ago

In this case all the JIO users should be affected with this though also possible that their device has custom DNS server set.


smolpaw
HOBBYTop 5% Contributor

2 months ago

Leave it on GCP network and then try it again tomorrow morning


vipulahir7
FREE

2 months ago

Hey guys!
It's still not working even on GCP network.
Any other solutions?
Check: https://codeeditor-proxy-backend.up.railway.app


vipulahir7

Hey guys!It's still not working even on GCP network.Any other solutions?Check: https://codeeditor-proxy-backend.up.railway.app

smolpaw
HOBBYTop 5% Contributor

2 months ago

Just put it behind cloudflare. They will handle everything. If nothing works cloudflare will.
I have all my services behind cf as it helps in routing, caching and provides an extra layer of ddos protection.
If you do not have a domain you can get a 6 digit .xyz domain for a dollar/year.

If you need help setting up cloudflare and pointing out a domain to your railway service then let me know.


vipulahir7
FREE

2 months ago

Okay !
I think will have to do that there's no direct solution.
Accepting your solution for throughout help !


Status changed to Solved chandrika 2 months ago


DNS Resolution Issue - Railway Help Station