Assigning the Active Directory DNS Owner Role

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

The forest owner assigns an Active Directory DNS owner for the forest. The Active Directory DNS owner for the forest is a person or group of people responsible for overseeing the deployment of the Active Directory DNS infrastructure and making sure that, if necessary, domain names are registered with the proper Internet authorities.

The Active Directory DNS owner is responsible for the Active Directory DNS design for the forest. If your organization is currently operating a DNS service, then the DNS designer for the existing DNS service works with the Active Directory DNS owner to delegate the forest root DNS name to DNS servers running on domain controllers.

The Active Directory DNS owner for the forest also maintains contact with the DHCP and DNS teams of the organization and coordinates the plans of the individual DNS owners of each domain in the forest (if any) with these groups. The DNS owner for the forest ensures that the DHCP and DNS teams are involved in the Active Directory DNS design process so that each group is aware of the DNS design plan and can provide input early on.