hi,
i'm looking for some informations about dns server in win 2003:
1. if i stop the primary dns server for a domain, but the server remains up, the secondary server is used, or this happens only when the server goes down and the ip is not reachable anymore?
I don't fully understand whether the 1st question is regarding what happens on the client side, or what happens to the secondary read-only copy of the zone data on the DNS server holding the secondary, read only copy. I assume neither of the DNS
servers are AD domain controllers.
This depends actually on the client side resolver. To explain, if a client machine, and I'm using a client in an internal infrastructure using these two servers as an example, has both DNS servers listed in its NIC properties, it will try to use the
first one first. If the first DNS entry does not respond, essentially resulting in an NULL response, then the client side resolver will remove the first entry out of the 'eligible resolvers list' for 15 minutes (Windows XP SP2 and newer) and try the second
entry. The 15 minute reset time can be adjusted in the registry.
Also, if the first server goes down, the DNS server still holding the sedondary copy will continue to operate and service clients.
2. how can i check that the secondary dns server is recognized as secondary namespace for the domains in the servers?
the two servers are configured as dns servers for some internet website hosted.
best regards,
luca morelli
You can use nslookup. It won't show if it's a "secondary" server, rather an authorative server for the domain name. The set q=ns sets nslookup to look for "ns" records that will show what nameservers are authorative, and the set q=soa sets it to look
for the SOA (Start of Authority) should show the primary nameserver with additional information.
Here's an example using intel.com:
c:\>nslookup
> set q=ns
> intel.com
Server: vnsc-bak.sys.gtei.net
Address: 4.2.2.2
Non-authoritative answer:
intel.com nameserver = ns1.intel.com
intel.com nameserver = ns4.intel.com
> set q=soa
> intel.com
Server: vnsc-bak.sys.gtei.net
Address: 4.2.2.2
Non-authoritative answer:
intel.com
primary name server = ns1.intel.com
responsible mail addr = hostmaster.intel.com
serial = 1395
refresh = 55562 (15 hours 26 mins 2 secs)
retry = 905 (15 mins 5 secs)
expire = 604800 (7 days)
default TTL = 14400 (4 hours)
Ace
Ace Fekay, MVP, MCT, MCITP EA, MCTS Windows 2008 & Exchange 2007, MCSE & MCSA 2003/2000, MCSA Messaging 2003, Microsoft Certified Trainer, Microsoft MVP - Directory Services. This posting is provided AS-IS with no warranties or guarantees and confers no
rights.
