# SoftLayer DNS

{% hint style="info" %}
**NOTE**: This provider is currently has no maintainer. We are looking for a volunteer. If this provider breaks it may be disabled or removed if it can not be easily fixed.
{% endhint %}

### Configuration

To use this provider, add an entry to `creds.json` with `TYPE` set to `SOFTLAYER` along with authentication fields. Authenticating with SoftLayer requires at least a `username` and `api_key` for authentication. It can also optionally take a `timeout` and `endpoint_url` parameter however these are optional and will use standard defaults if not provided.

Example:

{% code title="creds.json" %}

```json
{
  "softlayer": {
    "TYPE": "SOFTLAYER",
    "api_key": "mysecretapikey",
    "username": "myusername"
  }
}
```

{% endcode %}

To maintain compatibility with existing softlayer CLI services these can also be provided by the `SL_USERNAME` and `SL_API_KEY` environment variables or specified in the `~/.softlayer`, but this is discouraged. More information about these methods can be found at [the softlayer-go library documentation](https://github.com/softlayer/softlayer-go#sessions).

### Usage

An example configuration:

{% code title="dnsconfig.js" %}

```javascript
var REG_NONE = NewRegistrar("none");
var DSP_SOFTLAYER = NewDnsProvider("softlayer");

D("example.com", REG_NONE, DnsProvider(DSP_SOFTLAYER),
    A("test", "1.2.3.4"),
);
```

{% endcode %}

### Metadata

This provider does not recognize any special metadata fields unique to SoftLayer dns. For compatibility with the pre-generated NAMESERVER fields it's recommended to set the NS TTL to 86400 such as:

{% code title="dnsconfig.js" %}

```javascript
var REG_NONE = NewRegistrar("none");
var DSP_SOFTLAYER = NewDnsProvider("softlayer");

D("example.com", REG_NONE, DnsProvider(SOFTLAYER),
    NAMESERVER_TTL(86400),

    A("test", "1.2.3.4"),
);
```

{% endcode %}


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.dnscontrol.org/provider/softlayer.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.