---
title: "Defining Sort List for Cached DNS Responses"
canonical: "https://docs.infoblox.com/space/dca9x/399475019/Defining%20Sort%20List%20for%20Cached%20DNS%20Responses"
format: markdown
---
You can define a sort list for the cached DNS responses on the appliance to prioritize A and AAAA records on certain networks, sorting them to the beginning of the list in the response. For example, you can define a sort list when a recursive server has two interfaces and you want the DNS clients to prefer one interface because it has a faster link. You can define sort lists for the cached DNS responses on the appliance, regardless of whether DNS cache acceleration license is installed or not.  
Consider the following when the DNS cache acceleration license is installed on the appliance:

- Authoritative and stub zones are not supported by the appliance. Hence, sort lists are supported only for recursive caching.
- You can define up to 200 sort lists with a maximum of 50 IP addresses per sort list.
- A DNS view cannot be associated with the appliance if the DNS view has more than 200 sort lists or more than 50 IP addresses per sort list configured.

> ⚠️ Note
> ⚠️ 
> ⚠️ If more than 200 sort lists or more than 50 IP addresses per sort list are configured for the cached DNS responses, you cannot upgrade the appliance to a later release.

When both RRset order and sort list are defined for cached DNS responses, the appliance sorts the responses based on the RRset order first, and then sorts based on the sort list. For information about preserving the RRset order for cached DNS responses, see *[Preserving the RRset Order for Cached DNS Responses](https://infoblox-docs.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/dca9x/pages/399769927)*. Note that defining sort lists for the cached DNS responses might have a performance impact on DNS caching.  
To define a sort list for a Grid, member, or DNS view:

1. **Grid:** From the **Data Management** tab, select the **DNS** tab, expand the Toolbar and click **Grid DNS Properties.**  
**Member:** From the **Data Management** tab, select the **DNS** tab > **Members** tab -> *member* check box -> Edit icon.  
**DNS View:** From the **Data Management** tab, click the **DNS** tab -> **Zones** tab> *dns_view* check box -> Edit icon.  
To override an inherited property, click **Override** next to it and complete the appropriate fields.
2. In the editor, click **Toggle** **Advanced** **Mode**, and then click **Sort** **List**.
3. Click the Add icon and select either **Any** to define a sort list for any address and network, or **Address/Network** to define a sort list for a particular source IP address or network.
4. Do the following in the new row:
  - If you selected **Address/Network**, enter the IP address or network of the source of the query. The feature supports IPv4 or IPv6 values.
  - Click the Add icon beside the source IP address to add the preferred IP addresses or networks for the source. You can add as many IP addresses as necessary. However, if the DNS Cache Acceleration license is installed on the appliance, you can add a maximum of 50 IP addresses per sort list. When you add multiple IP addresses, you can change the order of the IP addresses. Select an IP address and drag it to its new position, or click the up or down arrow, as show in the following figure:  
*Sort List*
5. Enter the IP address or network in the **Prioritized** **Networks** field.
6. You can add additional information about the source address or network in the **Comment** field.
7. To add another source IP address or network, click the Add icon again. You can create a separate sort list for each source IP address or network.
8. Save the configuration and click **Restart** if it appears at the top of the screen.