Using Command-Line Tools to Deploy DNS

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

You can use the command-line tool Dnscmd.exe to perform most of the tasks that you can perform from the DNS MMC snap-in. By using Dnscmd.exe, you can create, delete, and view zones and records and reset server and zone properties. You can also perform routine administration operations, such as creating or updating a zone, reloading the zone, refreshing the zone, writing the zone back to a file or Active Directory, pausing and resuming the zone, clearing the cache, adding records to root hints, stopping and starting the DNS service, and viewing statistics.

You can also use Dnscmd.exe to write batch file scripts and for remote administration. For more information about Dnscmd.exe, in Help and Support Center for Windows Server 2003, click Tools, and then click Windows Support Tools. For information about installing and using the Windows Server 2003 Support Tools and Support Tools Help, see the Sreadme.doc file in the \Support\Tools folder on the Windows Server 2003 operating system CD.

You can use the Nslookup.exe command-line tool to perform query testing of the DNS domain namespace and to display configuration information.