Azure Private Endpoint DNS: Simplifying Integration and Resolution

Azure Private Endpoint DNS is a game-changer for simplifying integration and resolution in your network.

Private endpoints provide a private IP address for your Azure resources, allowing you to access them securely over a private network. This eliminates the need for public IP addresses and reduces exposure to the internet.

By using private endpoints, you can also take advantage of Private DNS zones, which enable you to manage DNS records for your private endpoints in a secure and controlled manner.

This setup is particularly useful for applications that require high security and low latency, such as financial services or real-time analytics.

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The challenge with Private Endpoint DNS resolution can be frustrating, but there are some key things to keep in mind.

Microsoft Azure services already have a DNS configuration for a public endpoint, which must be overridden to connect using private endpoint.

It's essential to know that a private DNS zone doesn't work by default over an Azure P2S VPN connection.

This can cause difficulties in resolving the DNS of a private endpoint while connected to a Point-to-Site (P2S) VPN.

To troubleshoot these issues, consider that there are solutions available, such as overriding the DNS configuration or using the hosts file.

However, using the hosts file is not a scalable solution.

Private Endpoint challenges arise from DNS integration and configuration, requiring correct DNS setup to resolve endpoint names with private IP addresses.

Microsoft Azure services have a built-in DNS configuration for public endpoints, which must be overridden to use private endpoints.

To resolve Storage Account FQDN with private endpoint IP, direct changes on the hosts file aren't scalable solutions.

Azure Private Endpoint P2S VPN DNS resolution difficulties stem from private DNS zones not working by default over P2S VPN connections.

This issue affects finding the correct address for private resources when connected to a P2S VPN, and also occurs with on-premise networks connected through ExpressRoute or VPN S2S.

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Public DNS resolution is used for Confluent Cloud clusters with Azure Private Link, requiring both public and private DNS to resolve cluster endpoints.

The Confluent Global DNS Resolver (GLB) endpoints are advertised, and the public DNS resolution process involves two steps: removing the glb subdomain and returning a CNAME for bootstrap and broker hostnames.

Azure Private DNS Zone & Azure Magic IP resolves private endpoint issues by linking the private DNS zone to the hub virtual network and configuring public DNS servers used by the "DNS Proxies" infrastructure.

The Magic IP DNS Proxies must use to perform DNS resolution is 168.63.129.16, a public IP address used by Microsoft Azure in all regions and national clouds.

Here's a summary of the DNS resolution path:

When troubleshooting private endpoint zone groups, it's essential to understand the return values that can help you identify the issue.

The state of the private endpoint zone group is always returned, and it's currently in a state of "Succeeded" or another status, depending on the specific configuration.

The resource ID of the private endpoint zone group is always returned, and it follows a specific format, such as "/subscriptions/xxx/resourceGroups/myResourceGroup/providers/Microsoft.Network/privateEndpoints/myPrivateEndpoint/privateDnsZoneGroups/myZoneGroup".

You can also expect the name of the private endpoint zone group to be returned, which is a simple string, like "myZoneGroup".

The list of zone configurations within the zone group is always returned, and it contains multiple elements, each with its own name, private DNS zone ID, record sets, and other details.

Here's a breakdown of the possible return values for the private DNS zone configurations:

The provisioning state of the resource is always returned, and it's either "Succeeded" or another status, depending on the specific configuration.

To set up Azure Private Endpoint DNS, you must update your DNS records to ensure connectivity passes through Azure Private Link in the supported pattern. Any DNS provider that can ensure DNS is routed as follows is acceptable.

To create a Private DNS zone and DNS records, you'll need to create a Private DNS zone for the Private Link, and then add DNS records as described in Manage DNS records and record sets by using the Azure portal. You can also use the DNS helper script to identify the correct mapping of DNS zone records to zonal endpoints for Confluent Cloud.

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Here are the steps to update DNS resolution using Azure Private DNS Zone:

Note that you cannot have multiple VNet links for the same zone to the same VNet, and you should use Azure Policy: Private Link and DNS integration at scale to manage centrally all the Private DNS zones.

To set up records, you'll need to create a Private DNS zone in Azure. This is a crucial step in ensuring connectivity passes through Azure Private Link in the supported pattern.

You can use any DNS provider that can route DNS as follows: Private Link in the supported pattern. Azure Private DNS Zone is one option, but you can also use other providers.

To create a Private DNS zone, you'll need to browse to the Azure portal and create a new zone for the Private Link. This will allow you to manage DNS records for your Private Link.

When creating DNS records, you'll need to map Confluent Cloud DNS names to Azure private endpoint addresses. This can be done using the Azure portal or by running a DNS helper script from your VM instance within the VNet.

Here's an example of how to create DNS records:

Remember to update your DNS records to ensure connectivity passes through Azure Private Link in the supported pattern. This will ensure that your Private Link is configured correctly.

You can also use the Azure portal to attach the Private DNS Zone to the VNets where clients or applications are present. This will allow you to manage DNS records for your Private Link in one place.

When setting up records, it's essential to note that Kafka broker names are not static in Confluent Cloud with private linking. Do not hardcode the broker names in DNS records.

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Provisioning Private Link endpoints in Azure is a crucial step in setting up a secure and private connection to your Confluent Cloud cluster. To do this, you'll need to create a private endpoint in your VNet from the Azure portal.

Confluent recommends using a Terraform configuration to automate the process, but you can also follow these manual steps. For single availability zone clusters, create a single private endpoint to the Confluent Cloud Service Alias for the Kafka cluster zone.

For multi-availability zone clusters, create three private endpoints, one endpoint to each of the Confluent Cloud zonal Service Aliases. To set up the VNet endpoint for Azure Private Link, follow these steps:

By following these steps, you'll be able to provision Private Link endpoints in Azure and establish a secure connection to your Confluent Cloud cluster.

Endpoint integration is a crucial aspect of Azure Private Endpoints. You can't have multiple VNet links for the same zone to the same VNet, which can make management a challenge.

Azure Policy is a recommended solution to manage Private Link and DNS integration at scale. This allows you to centrally manage all Private DNS zones in your central DNS infrastructure.

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Private endpoints must be accessible from on-premise for various use cases. This complexity is highly related to DNS resolution, making it a challenge to set up.

The complexity of on-premise integration of Private Endpoints is a major hurdle. However, using a Terraform configuration can automate the manual steps involved in setting up Private Link endpoints.

To set up a private endpoint, you need to specify the required fields in the Azure Private Link Center. This includes creating a private endpoint, specifying the resource, and configuring the virtual network.

Here's a step-by-step guide to creating a private endpoint:

1. Gather the required information in the Confluent Cloud Console.

2. Create a private endpoint in the Azure Private Link Center.

3. Specify the required fields, including the resource and virtual network.

4. Review and create the private endpoint.

5. Wait for the Azure deployment to complete and verify the private endpoint connection status.

Note that for Confluent Cloud multi-availability zone clusters, you need to create three private endpoints, one to each of the Confluent Cloud zonal Service Aliases.

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Azure Private Endpoint DNS resolution can be a challenge, but there are several resolution options available.

The private DNS resolution is the recommended option and guarantees fully private DNS resolution.

For Azure Private Link Confluent Cloud networks, you can use the public or private DNS resolution. This is useful when you want to ensure that Confluent deployments are homogenous and conform to DNS configurations for your networks.

The public DNS resolution performs a two-step process: the Confluent Cloud Global DNS Resolver removes the glb subdomain and returns a CNAME for your bootstrap and broker hostnames, and the CNAME resolves to your VNet private endpoints based on the Private DNS Zone configuration.

To use private DNS resolution, your cluster is now ready for use, but if you encounter any problem, refer to troubleshoot connectivity issues.

Here's a summary of the resolution options:

The Azure DNS Private Resolver is a highly recommended solution for resolving private DNS zones. It eliminates the need for an additional DNS Forwarder.

This solution is particularly useful for public apps that utilize several private resources. By deploying an Azure Private DNS Resolver, you can simplify the process of resolving private DNS zones.

The notable addition to the diagram is the deployment of a DNS Resolver Inbound endpoint. This endpoint allows name resolution from on-premises or other private locations through an IP address within your private virtual network address space.

To enable the inbound endpoint, you need to allocate a subnet within the VNet where it will be provisioned. This subnet can only be delegated to "Microsoft.Network/dnsResolvers" and cannot be utilized by other services.

The setup process is relatively straightforward. Provision an Azure DNS Private Resolver along with an inbound endpoint, and then configure the inbound endpoint as the DNS Server in your VNet.

You can configure the inbound endpoint as the DNS server in two ways. The first way is to specify the DNS Server for the Virtual Network.

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