Verify DNS Server Configuration for a Domain Controller

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Applies To: Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2

You can use this procedure to verify DNS Server service configuration on a new additional domain controller that has Domain Name System (DNS) installed. Verify that resource records are registered so that clients can locate the DNS server. Verify also that the forest and domain DNS zone application directory partitions have replicated so that the DNS server receives zone updates.

Membership in Domain Admins, or equivalent, is the minimum required to complete this procedure. Review details about using the appropriate accounts and group memberships at Local and Domain Default Groups (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=83477).

To verify DNS server configuration for a domain controller

  1. Open the DNS snap-in: On the Start menu, point to Administrative Tools, and then click DNS. If the User Account Control dialog box appears, provide Domain Admins credentials, if required, and then click Continue.

  2. Double-click Forward Lookup Zones, and verify that the zone _msdcs.ForestRootDomain and the zone for the domain of the new domain controller are present.

  3. Click the domain node, and then, in the details pane, verify that host (A) resource records, IPv6 host (AAAA) resource records (if TCP/IPv6 addresses are in use), and name server (NS) resource records are present for the new domain controller.

  4. To verify that the ForestDnsZones and DomainDnsZones application directory partitions replicated successfully, open a Command Prompt as an administrator: On the Start menu, right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as administrator. If the User Account Control dialog box appears, provide Domain Admins credentials, if required, and then click Continue.

  5. At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:

    repadmin /showrepl

  6. Verify that the DC=DomainDnsZones,DC=DomainName,…,DC=ForestRootDomainName,DC=com and DC=ForestDnsZones,DC=ForestRootDomainName,DC=com application directory partitions replicated successfully.

See Also

Concepts

Verify DNS Client Settings