Change the boot method of a DNS server

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

By default, Domain Name System (DNS) servers use information that is stored in the registry to initialize the service and load any zone data for use at the server. In addition, you can configure the DNS server to boot from a file. Or, in Active Directory environments, you can supplement local registry data with zone data that is retrieved for directory-integrated zones that are stored in the Active Directory database. If you use the file method, the file must be a text file named Boot, which is located on the computer in the %Systemroot%\Windows\System32\Dns folder.

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 the boot method of a DNS server

1. Open the DNS snap-in.

2. In the console tree, right-click the applicable DNS server, and then click Properties.

3. Click the Advanced tab.

4. In the Load zone data on startup list, select one of the following:

   • From registry

   • From file

   • From Active Directory and registry