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Using server debug logging options

  • Article

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

Using server debug logging options

The following DNS debug logging options are available:

  • Direction of packets

    Send  Packets sent by the DNS server are logged in the DNS server log file.

    Receive  Packets received by the DNS server are logged in the log file.

  • Content of packets

    Standard queries  Specifies that packets containing standard queries (per RFC 1034) are logged in the DNS server log file.

    Updates  Specifies that packets containing dynamic updates (per RFC 2136) are logged in the DNS server log file.

    Notifies  Specifies that packets containing notifications (per RFC 1996) are logged in the DNS server log file.

  • Transport protocol

    UDP  Specifies that packets sent and received over UDP are logged in the DNS server log file.

    TCP  Specifies that packets sent and received over TCP are logged in the DNS server log file.

  • Type of packet

    Request  Specifies that request packets are logged in the DNS server log file (a request packet is characterized by a QR bit set to 0 in the DNS message header).

    Response  Specifies that response packets are logged in the DNS server log file (a response packet is characterized by a QR bit set to 1 in the DNS message header).

  • Enable filtering based on IP address Provides additional filtering of packets logged in the DNS server log file. This option allows logging of packets sent from specific IP addresses to a DNS server, or from a DNS server to specific IP addresses.

  • File name Lets you specify the name and location of the DNS server log file.

    For example:

    • dns.log specifies that the DNS server log file should be saved as dns.log in the systemroot\System32\Dns directory.

    • temp\dns.log specifies that the DNS server log file should be saved as dns.log in the systemroot\Temp directory

  • Log file maximum size limit Lets you set the maximum file size for the DNS server log file. When the specified maximum size of the DNS server log file is reached, the DNS server overwrites the oldest packet information with new information. Note: If left unspecified, the DNS server log file's size can take up a large amount of hard disk space.

By default, all debug logging options are disabled. When selectively enabled, the DNS Server service can perform additional trace-level logging of selected types of events or messages for general troubleshooting and debugging of the server.

Debug logging can be resource intensive, affecting overall server performance and consuming disk space. Therefore, it should only be used temporarily when more detailed information about server performance is needed.

Notes