This article explains step-by-step how to configure Internet access for Domain Name System (DNS) in a Windows Server 2003 product. DNS is the core name resolution tool used on the Internet. Responsible for the resolution between the host name and the Internet address.
How to start with a standalone server running Windows Server 2003
A standalone server running Windows Server 2003 becomes the network's DNS server. The first step is to assign a static Internet "Protocol (IP)" address to the server. DNS servers should not use dynamically assigned IP addresses, because dynamic changes to the address will cause the client to lose contact with the DNS server.
Step 1: Configure TCP/IP
Open the network connection and use the right click to view the properties of the local connection.
Select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). Check its properties.
Click the General tab.
Select Use the IP address below, and type the IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway address in the corresponding box.
Select the DNS tab in the Advanced options.
Click to attach the primary and connect to specific DNS suffix.
Click to select the Parent suffix check box with the primary DNS suffix.
Click to select the Register the address of this connection in DNS check box.
Note that a DNS server running Windows Server 2003 must specify its DNS server as itself.
If the server needs to resolve the name from its Internet Service Provider (ISP), you must configure a forwarder. The How to Configure a Forwarder section later in this article will discuss the forwarder. Click OK three times.
Note: If you receive a DNS
Caches the warning for the parser service, click OK to close the warning. The cache resolver is trying to get in touch with the DNS server, but you have not completed the configuration of the server.
Step 2: Install the Microsoft DNS Server
Click Start, point to Control Panel, and then click Add or Remove Programs.
Click Add or Remove Windows Components.
In the Components list, click Network Services (but do not select or clear the check box), and then click Details. Click to select the Domain Name System (DNS) check box, and then click OK.
Click Next.
When prompted, insert the Windows Server 2003 CD-ROM into the computer's CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive.
When the installation is complete, on the Finish Windows Components Wizard page, click Finish.
Click Close to close the Add or Remove Programs window.
Step 3: Configure the DNS server
To configure DNS using the DNS snap-in in the Microsoft Management Console (MMC), follow these steps:
Click Start, point to Programs, point to Administrative Tools, and then click DNS. Right-click the forward search area and click New Area.
When the New Area Wizard starts, click Next.
You will then be prompted to select the region type. Area types include:
Main Zone: Create a copy of the zone that can be updated directly on this server. This area information is stored in a .dns text file.
Secondary Zone: The standard secondary zone replicates all information from its primary DNS server. The primary DNS server can be an Active Directory zone, primary zone, or secondary zone configured for zone replication. Note that you cannot modify the zone data on the secondary DNS server. All data is copied from the primary DNS server.
Stub Zone: The Stub Zone only contains the resource records required to identify the authoritative DNS servers that identifies the zone. These resource records include name server (NS), starting authority (SOA), and possible glue host (A) records.
There is also an option in Active Directory to store regions. This option is only available if the DNS server is a domain controller.
The new forward search area must be a primary area or an Active Directory integrated area so that it can accept dynamic updates. Click Main, and then click Next.
The new region contains the locator record for the Active Directory-based domain. The zone name must be the same as the domain name based on Active Directory, or the logical DNS container for that name. For example, if the name of an Active Directory-based domain is "", then the valid region name can only be "".
Accept the default name of the new zone file and click Next.
Note: Experienced DNS administrators may want to create a reverse search area, so they are advised to delve into this branch of the wizard. A DNS server can resolve two basic requests: forward search request and reverse search request. Forward search is more common. Forward search resolves the host name to an IP address with "A" or host resource record. Reverse search resolves the IP address to a host name with a PTR or pointer resource record. If you have configured a reverse DNS zone, you can automatically create associated reverse records when creating the original forward records.
How to remove the root DNS zone
A DNS server running Windows Server 2003 follows specific steps during its name resolution. The DNS server first querys its cache, then checks its zone records, then sends the request to the forwarder, and finally uses the root server to try to resolve.
By default, the Microsoft DNS server connects to the Internet to further process DNS requests with the root prompt. When using the Dcpromo tool to promote a server to a domain controller, the domain controller requires DNS. If DNS is installed during the elevation process, a root zone is created. This root zone indicates to your DNS server that it is a root Internet server. Therefore, your DNS server does not use a forwarder or root prompt during name resolution.
Click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click DNS.
Expand ServerName, where ServerName is the name of the server, click Properties, and then expand the Forward Search area.
Right-click the "." area and click Delete.
How to configure the forwarder
Windows Server 2003 can make the most of the DNS forwarder. This feature forwards DNS requests to an external server. If the DNS server cannot find the resource record in its zone, you can send the request to another DNS server for further attempts to resolve. A common situation is to configure a forwarder to your ISP's DNS server.
Click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click DNS.
Right-click ServerName, where ServerName is the name of the server, and then click the Forwarder tab.
Click on a DNS domain in the DNS domain list. Or click New, type the name of the DNS domain in the DNS Domain box, and then click OK. In the Forwarder IP Address box for the selected domain, type the IP address of the first DNS server you want to forward to, and then click Add.
Repeat step 4 to add the DNS server you want to forward to.
Click OK.
How to configure the root prompt
Root prompts can be used for Windows. The root prompt resource record can be stored in Active Directory or in a text file (%SystemRoot%\System32\DNS\). Windows uses a standard Internic root server. Additionally, when a server running Windows Server 2003 queries the root server, it updates itself with the latest list of root servers.
Click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click DNS.
Right-click ServerName, where ServerName is the name of the server, and then click Properties. Click the Root Tips tab. DNS
The root server of the server is listed in the Name Server list.
How to configure DNS proxy and network address translation (NAT) devices behind a firewall can limit access to ports. DNS uses UDP port A and TCP port 53. The DNS Service Management Console also uses RCP. RCP uses port 135. These problems can occur when you configure DNS and firewalls.