Tech Matchups: Route 53 Resolver vs Private Hosted Zones
Overview
Route 53 Resolver provides DNS query forwarding and resolution for hybrid environments, connecting VPCs to on-premises DNS.
Private Hosted Zones enable internal DNS resolution within a VPC or across AWS accounts, hosting private domain records.
Both manage DNS in VPCs: Resolver for hybrid queries, Private Hosted Zones for internal domains.
Section 1 - Functionality and Scope
Route 53 Resolver forwards DNS queries—e.g., resolving on-premises domain internal.corp from a VPC via a Resolver Rule. Supports inbound/outbound endpoints for hybrid DNS.
Private Hosted Zones host internal DNS records—e.g., mapping db.internal to 10.0.1.10 within a VPC. Associated with specific VPCs.
Scenario: Resolver for on-premises DNS access; Private Hosted Zone for VPC-internal services.
Section 2 - Hybrid Integration
Route 53 Resolver enables hybrid DNS—e.g., forwarding VPC queries to an on-premises DNS server (192.168.0.2) via an outbound endpoint. Supports conditional forwarding rules.
Private Hosted Zones are VPC-centric, resolving internal domains without external integration—e.g., app.internal resolves only within associated VPCs.
Scenario: Resolver connects a VPC to a corporate DNS; Private Hosted Zone resolves a microservice’s domain internally.
Section 3 - Cost and Scalability
Route 53 Resolver charges for endpoints ($0.125/hour per IP) and queries ($0.40/million). Example: 2 endpoints, 1M queries/month costs ~$180 ($180 endpoints).
Private Hosted Zones cost $0.50/month per zone + $0.40/million queries. Example: 1 zone, 1M queries/month costs ~$0.90.
Resolver scales to hybrid environments; Private Hosted Zones scale to thousands of records per VPC.
Scenario: Resolver for complex hybrid DNS; Private Hosted Zone for simple internal DNS.
Section 4 - Use Case Scenarios
Route 53 Resolver suits hybrid clouds—e.g., resolving on-premises domains for a VPC-based app integrated with a data center.
Private Hosted Zones fit internal VPC services—e.g., naming private RDS instances for a microservices architecture.
Scenario: Resolver for a hybrid ERP system; Private Hosted Zone for a VPC’s internal APIs.
Section 5 - Comparison Table
| Aspect | Route 53 Resolver | Private Hosted Zones |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Hybrid DNS | Internal VPC DNS |
| Integration | On-premises | VPC-only |
| Cost | Endpoints + Queries | Zones + Queries |
| Scalability | Hybrid Environments | VPC Records |
| Best For | Hybrid Clouds | Internal Services |
Resolver for hybrid DNS, Private Hosted Zones for internal DNS. Use both for comprehensive naming.
Conclusion
Route 53 Resolver and Private Hosted Zones address DNS needs in AWS. Resolver enables hybrid DNS resolution, ideal for integrating VPCs with on-premises networks. Private Hosted Zones provide simple, internal DNS for VPC resources, perfect for microservices or private apps.
Weigh integration (hybrid vs. internal), cost (endpoints vs. zones), and scope (external vs. VPC). Use Resolver for hybrid setups, Private Hosted Zones for internal naming—or combine: Resolver for on-premises, Private Hosted Zones for VPC services.