Unable to create a new domain/subdomain or migrate/rename an existing domain/subdomain: DNS record already exists

Symptoms

• Unable to create a new domain/subdomain/alias, migrate an existing domain/subdomain or activate the mail service for the domain with one of the following errors:

  PLESK_ERROR: DNS records for domain with such name already exist

  OR

  PLESK_ERROR: The subdomain with such name already exists

  OR

  PLESK_ERROR: This DNS record already exists

  OR

  PLESK_ERROR: Unable to create the subdomain test.example.com. because a DNS record pointing to the host test.example.com. already exists.

  OR

  PLESK_ERROR: Unable to set up the domain alias example.net because a DNS record pointing to the host example.net already exists.

• Going to Tools & Settings > DNS Template > Apply DNS Template Changes > Select an option > OK, fails with the following error message:

  PLESK_WARN: There were issues syncing DNS zones with the DNS zone template.
  Unable to resolve dns zone owner

• Following error can be found in /var/log/plesk/panel.log:

  CONFIG_TEXT: ERR [panel] Unable to synchronize DNS zone [6] example.com: Unable to resolve dns zone owner

Cause

Orphaned DNS records exist in the Plesk database.

Resolution 

For Linux

1. Connect to a Plesk server via SSH.

2. Create a database dump of the Plesk database (for more information, see this KB article):

   # plesk db dump psa > /root/psa_backup.sql

3. Access the Plesk database:

   # plesk db

    

4. Delete orphaned records from corresponding tables:

   MYSQL_LIN: mysql> delete from dns_recs where dns_zone_id in (select id from dns_zone where id not in (select dns_zone_id from domains) and id not in (select dns_zone_id from domain_aliases));
   mysql> delete from dns_refs where dns_zone_id in (select id from dns_zone where id not in (select dns_zone_id from domains) and id not in (select dns_zone_id from domain_aliases));
   mysql> delete from dns_zone where id not in (select dns_zone_id from domains) and id not in (select dns_zone_id from domain_aliases);

5. Create the domain/subdomain/alias in Plesk / rerun the migration.

For Windows

1. Connect to a Plesk server via RDP.

2. Create a database dump of the Plesk database (for more information, see this KB article):

   C:\> plesk db dump psa > C:\psa_backup.sql

3. Access the Plesk database:

   C:\> plesk db

    

4. Delete records from corresponding tables using the ID from the steps above:

   MYSQL_WIN: mysql> delete from dns_recs where dns_zone_id in (select id from dns_zone where id not in (select dns_zone_id from domains) and id not in (select dns_zone_id from domain_aliases));
   mysql> delete from dns_zone where id not in (select dns_zone_id from domains) and id not in (select dns_zone_id from domain_aliases);

5. Create the domain/subdomain/alias in Plesk / rerun the migration.