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Configure a New DNS Server

  • Article

Applies To: Windows Server 2008

When a new Domain Name System (DNS) server is not installed on a domain controller, you typically perform the following tasks to configure it:

  • Create a forward and (optional) reverse lookup zone.

  • Determine whether the server will allow dynamic updates, including whether nonsecure updates are allowed.

  • Determine whether queries will be forwarded and to what servers.

Instead of configuring these settings, you can choose instead to configure the server to use root hints so that you can perform these configuration tasks at a later time.

Membership in the Administrators group, or equivalent, is the minimum required to complete this procedure. Review details about using the appropriate accounts and group memberships at Local and Domain Default Groups (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=83477).

Configuring a new DNS server

  • Using the Windows interface

  • Using a command line

To configure a new DNS server using the Windows interface

  1. Open DNS Manager.

  2. If necessary, add the applicable server to the snap-in, and then connect to it.

  3. In the console tree, click the applicable DNS server.

    Where?

    • DNS/DNS server

  4. On the Action menu, click Configure a DNS Server.

  5. Follow the instructions in the Configure a DNS Server Wizard.

Additional considerations

  • To open DNS Manager, click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click DNS.

  • If the DNS server is running locally, you do not have to perform step 2.

  • When you finish configuring the server, you may have to complete additional tasks, such as enabling dynamic updates for its zones or adding resource records to its zones.

To configure a new DNS server using a command line

  1. Open a command prompt.

  2. Type the following command, and then press ENTER:

    dnscmd <ServerName> /Config {<ZoneName>|..AllZones} <Property> {1|0}
Parameter Description

dnscmd

Specifies the name of the command-line tool for managing DNS servers.

<ServerName>

Required. Specifies the DNS host name of the DNS server. You can also type the IP address of the DNS server. To specify the DNS server on the local computer, you can also type a period (.).

/Config

Specifies that the command configures the specified zone.

{<ZoneName>|..AllZones}

Specifies the name of the zone to be configured. To apply the configuration for all zones hosted by the specified DNS server, type ..AllZones.

<Property>

Specifies the server property or zone property to be configured. There are different properties available for servers and zones. For a list of the available properties, at the command prompt, type: dnscmd /Config /help.

{1|0}

Sets configuration options to either 1 (on) or 0 (off). Note that some server and zone properties must be reset as part of a more complex operation.

To view the complete syntax for this command, at a command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:

dnscmd /Config /help

Additional considerations

  • To open an elevated Command Prompt window, click Start, point to All Programs, click Accessories, right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as administrator.

  • When you finish configuring the server, you may have to complete additional tasks, such as enabling dynamic updates for its zones or adding resource records to its zones.

Additional references