Change a DNS zone file name

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

When you use the following procedure, the name of the zone file changes, not the name of the zone. You can use Windows Explorer to view or verify the new zone file name.

The zone file name is not used for Active Directory-integrated zones because these zones store zone data in the Active Directory database, not a text file on the DNS server computer.

Administrative credentials

To perform this procedure, you must be a member of the Administrators group on the local computer, or you must have been delegated the appropriate authority. If the computer is joined to a domain, members of the Domain Admins group might be able to perform this procedure. As a security best practice, consider using the Run as command to perform this procedure.

To change a zone file name

1. Open the DNS snap-in.

2. In the console tree, click the applicable zone.

   Where?

   • DNS/applicable DNS server/Forward Lookup Zones (or Reverse Lookup Zones)/applicable zone

3. On the Action menu, click Properties.

4. On the General tab, in the Zone file name text box, type the new file name for this zone, and then click OK.

Caution

• If the zone file name is changed, be sure to update the zone file name on other DNS servers that maintain this zone. Otherwise, subsequent zone transfers and updates might fail. This can occur in the following situations:

  • The zone type is primary on this server.

  • The zone type is secondary on this server, and this server acts as a source or master server for this zone to other DNS servers that host secondary copies of this zone.